Trump extends Hormuz Strait deadline, reports good discussions with Iran

President Donald Trump ordered a five-day pause in strikes on Iran after what he characterized as productive conversations over the weekend, according to a Monday statement from the president. The United States and Iran had very good conversations over the last two days about a complete resolution of Middle Eastern hostilities, Trump said.

The president paused all strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure through the end of the week based on the tone of the detailed conversations, according to the statement. Trump told reporters later on Monday that Iranian leaders reached out to the White House and wanted to make a deal.

What kind of discussions were had? Trump told reporters that there were about 15 points of agreement with Iran. The top point is that Iran won’t have nuclear weapons, and points two and three are that they’ll never have a nuclear weapon, which they’ve agreed to, Trump said. The president added that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for Middle Eastern trade, would open very soon should discussions truly prove successful. The oil flow would be jointly controlled, possibly by Trump and the new Iranian ayatollah, whoever that may prove to be, the president told reporters.

How has Iran responded? A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry told Iran’s government-run news outlet IRNA that Iran had no direct negotiations with the United States. Iran’s conditions on the strait and ending the war remain unchanged, according to Iranian spokesman Esmail Baghaei. Any attacks on Iran’s vital infrastructure will be met with an immediate and severe response, he added.

Trump acknowledged Iran’s conflicting statements with reporters on Monday, saying the regime needed better public relations staff. Iran’s top person, not the newly appointed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is speaking with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump said. The military strikes wiped out Iran’s leadership, so negotiations are proceeding with whom the administration believes to be the most respected leader since no one has seen the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi released a Sunday statement insisting that the Hormuz Strait was not closed, adding that no Iranian would be swayed by threats. Araghchi released a letter to the United Nations Security Council on Monday calling for action against the recent U.S.-Israeli attacks.

Dig deeper: Read Stephen Kloosterman’s previous report for more about Trump’s ultimatum issued Saturday night.