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Topics: Donald Trump, Iran, News, US News, World News
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Donald Trump, Iran, News, US News, World News
United States President Donald Trump has called off all military strikes on Iran after sharing a major update on the conflict.
Taking to Truth Social earlier today (23 March), he wrote in all-caps: "I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST."
The 79-year-old Republican continued: "BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS."
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Trump, who did not elaborate on the diplomatic negotiations that had taken place, signed off the update, writing: "THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP."
He appeared to have deleted his initial statement on the matter and reshared it some minutes later with spelling corrections amended.
Additionally, Iran did not immediately acknowledge any talks between the countries, but Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did say he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Trump’s announcement came as the United Arab Emirates reported its air defence was attempting to intercept new incoming Iranian fire on Monday afternoon, per PA.
Trump said that the suspension of his threat to attack power plants was 'subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions'.
The president's latest statements follow a stark ultimatum from Trump, who warned he would 'obliterate' Iran’s power plants if Tehran refused to back down in the Strait of Hormuz standoff.
"If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump previously wrote on Truth Social.
The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran late last month (28 February), which killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering hundreds of retaliatory missiles and thousands of drones from Iran across the region.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes were targeted across the Gulf at American allies and bases, striking countries such as Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was chosen as his successor as Iran’s Supreme Leader earlier this month (8 March).
The US and Israel’s attack on Iran targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure, its nuclear weapon programme, military sites and leadership in the capital, Tehran.