Trump says US–Iran talks ‘productive’, pauses strikes on Iranian power plants

Washington — US President Donald Trump on Monday said that Washington and Tehran have held “productive” discussions over the past two days, raising hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East. He also announced a temporary halt to planned US airstrikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision to pause strikes on Iranian power plants was based on the “positive tenor” of ongoing talks and would depend on the outcome of further negotiations.

The move comes just days after Trump issued a strong warning to Iran, threatening to target its power infrastructure if it failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global energy corridor. The ultimatum had marked a sharp escalation in the standoff.

Despite the earlier aggressive stance, Trump indicated that the US may be nearing its military objectives in the region and could consider winding down operations. He outlined key goals of the campaign, including weakening Iran’s missile capabilities, dismantling its defence infrastructure, and preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He also stressed that the US remains committed to safeguarding its allies in the region, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

At the same time, Trump suggested that responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz should increasingly fall on other nations that depend on the route, stating that the US would assist if required.

In a series of remarks, Trump claimed significant success in the campaign, asserting that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded. He also dismissed criticism from sections of the US media, saying that US objectives had been achieved ahead of schedule.

The situation remains fluid, with the next few days of talks expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the pause in hostilities leads to a broader de-escalation.

With inputs from IANS