Trump extends Iranian ‘energy plant destruction’ deadline again

US President Donald Trump has walked back from his vow to resume strikes on the Islamic Republic’s power facilities and extended the deadline for another 10 days, claiming that talks with Tehran “are going very well.”

Trump initially threatened last Saturday to “obliterate” Iran’s power network if it does not reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. After Tehran warned it will target regional energy infrastructure in retaliation, Trump on Monday postponed his threat for five days, citing “very productive conversations.”

Tehran has denied holding direct talks with Washington after Trump claimed that the Iranian leadership is desperate to reach a deal but fears retribution from its own people if it publicly admits so.

“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media and others, they are going very well,” Trump claimed in a Truth Social post on Thursday.

“As per the Iranian Government’s request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days,” he added.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt previously said they were passing messages between Washington and Tehran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, insisted that receiving messages does not constitute “talks.”

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