Trump: 'We are intent on making a deal' — Strikes on Iran Postponed 5 Days

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington and Tehran had held ‘‘very good and productive’’ conversations about a ‘‘complete and total resolution’’ of hostilities, and he ordered the military to postpone any strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days while talks continue. The statement was posted on the president’s social platform and repeated to reporters; Iranian officials denied that direct or indirect negotiations had taken place.

According to U.S. statements, the pause followed contacts involving U.S. envoys and unnamed ‘‘respected’’ Iranian interlocutors; the administration framed the move as an attempt to buy time for diplomacy while keeping military options on the table. Iranian state outlets and government spokespeople contradicted that account, saying there had been no communications with the United States and suggesting the White House aimed to calm energy markets. The divergent narratives have left the diplomatic picture unclear.

Financial markets reacted immediately: U.S. equity futures jumped and risk assets rallied on the prospect of de‑escalation, while oil prices tumbled from recent highs before settling with continued volatility. AP reporting showed Brent crude plunging roughly 12.5% to about $98.19 a barrel after the announcement, while U.S. benchmarks and safe‑haven flows swung sharply as traders reassessed the geopolitical risk premium. The market moves reflect how sensitive energy and equity prices remain to credible signals of a reduction in Middle East hostilities.

In a broader context, the Hurmuz Strait remains a strategic chokepoint for global energy shipments, and any credible risk to tanker traffic or power infrastructure can rapidly tighten global oil markets and raise insurance and shipping costs. The episode underscores the limits of unilateral public diplomacy via social platforms when counterparties publicly deny contacts; without mutually acknowledged channels, market calming may be temporary.

Market strategists say the five‑day pause should be treated cautiously: if concrete verification of negotiations or confidence‑building steps do not follow, volatility could resume and oil prices could spike again. Key indicators to watch this week include official confirmations of talks, Hurmuz transit data, and near‑term statements from regional intermediaries; these will determine whether risk premia on energy and equity markets contract further or re‑inflate.