Trump halts Iranian power plant strikes

Washington [US], March 24: President Donald Trump says the United States and Iran want to make a deal and the two sides have "major points of agreement" after he ordered the US military to postpone strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
"I am pleased 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," Trump posted on Monday in all caps on his Truth Social platform.
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." Speaking to reporters at a Florida airport, Trump said Iran wanted "to make a deal" and US envoys have been holding talks with a "respected" Iranian leader but not Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. He asserted that Iran must give up its enriched uranium stockpile for a deal.
The US president said the Strait of Hormuz would be opened very soon if there's a deal.
"If a deal happens, it's a great start for Iran and the region," he said, adding that he could not guarantee a deal with Tehran.
The latest announcement will be seen as a big relief in the region, which has been bearing the brunt of Iranian attacks, and across the world as the war on Iran has caused a global energy crisis and sent oil prices soaring.
In an effort to lower energy prices, Trump on Saturday gave Tehran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, warning that otherwise the US would "obliterate" Iran's power plants.
Iran denies negotiations taking place
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has denied that Iran has held talks with the US, saying Tehran's position on the Strait of Hormuz and conditions for ending the war have not changed.
In comments shared by the state news agency IRNA, Baghaei said: "Messages have been received from some friendly countries regarding the US's request for negotiations to end the war."
Iran responded by giving warnings about "the dire consequences of any attack on Iran's vital infrastructure", Baghaei said. Iran's IRGC has called Trump a "deceitful American president", saying his "contradictory behaviour will not make us lose sight of the battlefront".
Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has denied that talks have taken place between Iran and the US, echoing the Foreign Ministry's statement. "No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," he wrote on X.
Iran demands "complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors", the speaker said in a second post.
Pakistan, Russia call for end to hostilities
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called his Iranian counterpart Abbas Aragchi and "discussed recent regional developments".
Dar emphasized the importance of "dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace, security, and stability in the region and beyond", according to a statement by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. The phone call came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a phone call with Araghchi, has"stressed the urgent need to end hostilities immediately and transit toward a political and diplomatic resolution", Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
Source: Qatar Tribune