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U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran have held “good and very productive talks” over the past two days on resolving hostilities in the Middle East.
In a statement, Trump said the discussions were “in-depth, detailed, and constructive” and would continue throughout the week.
Based on the tone of the talks, Trump said he directed the Department of Defense to postpone any military action against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.
The pause is subject to the success of ongoing meetings and discussions between the two sides.
Trump said Iran “wants to make a deal badly” and indicated that an agreement could be reached within five days or sooner.
Senior officials from Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan have conveyed messages between Washington and Tehran over the past two days, according to a source.
Officials from the three countries held separate talks with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“The mediation continues and is progressing. The discussion is about ending the war and resolving all remaining open issues. We hope to receive answers soon,” the source said.
A Qatari diplomat said Qatar is not involved in mediation efforts, stating that the country is focused on defending itself following Iranian attacks on its gas facilities.
The European Union welcomed the decision to delay strikes, calling it a positive step toward de-escalation.
EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said, “We welcome any message of restraint,” adding that the bloc continues to call for reduced tensions and diplomatic solutions.
He said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remains in contact with counterparts in Türkiye, Qatar and Iran as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The United Kingdom also welcomed the announcement but stressed that the Strait of Hormuz “specifically needs to be reopened.”
Israeli opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should continue the war if the United States withdraws following Trump’s remarks on talks with Iran, according to Israeli media reports.
The developments come as the conflict continues to affect the region, with ongoing discussions focused on ending hostilities and addressing unresolved issues.
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