Trump Delays Planned Strikes on Iran's Energy Facilities - Internewscast Journal
Internewscast Journal· 412 words · 3 min read
In a recent post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump announced that he directed the U.S. military to delay planned strikes on Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure for a period of five days. This decision, he indicated, followed discussions with Iranian officials.
During a subsequent phone interview with CNBC's Joe Kernen, Trump expressed a strong desire to reach an agreement with Iran, stating, "We are very intent on making a deal with Iran."
However, Iranian state media presented a different narrative. Citing an anonymous "senior security official," a message on Telegram contradicted Trump's account, asserting that no direct or indirect negotiations have taken place between the U.S. and Iran. The official reportedly claimed, "There is no negotiation, and with this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war conditions nor will there be peace in the energy markets."
In response later that morning, Trump reaffirmed that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran had indeed occurred. He claimed these discussions were "very, very strong" and resulted in "major points of agreement," notably that Iran would commit to never developing a nuclear weapon.
Addressing the media in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump mentioned that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, alongside U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, took part in these discussions with a high-ranking Iranian official on Sunday evening. This statement underscores the former president's continued involvement in international diplomacy.
Trump, speaking to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, said his son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff participated in those talks Sunday evening with "a top person" in Iran.
"They want, very much to make a deal. We'd like to make a deal too," he said. "We're going to get together today by, probably, phone, because it's ... very hard for them to get out, I guess. But we'll, at some point, very, very soon, meet."
Trump said that if the five-day halt in strikes goes well, the parties could end up "settling this."
"Otherwise, we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out," he said.
The president also said that he believes Israel will be "very happy" with the progress made with Iran so far.
He added that the Strait of Hormuz "will be opened very soon, if this works."
Asked who would control the strait, Trump said it might be "jointly controlled" by himself and "whoever the ayatollah is," suggesting that such a move would come as part of a "very serious form of regime change."