Trump Extends Iran Ultimatum by 5 Days Amid ‘Positive’ Talks, Pauses Strike Threat

U.S. President Donald Trump has extended his earlier 48-hour ultimatum to Iran by five days, citing positive developments in ongoing talks and efforts to bring a favorable end to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Trump had previously threatened to launch attacks on Iran’s energy facilities if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. However, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he said that “very good and productive” discussions with Iran were underway and decided to extend the deadline by five days.

According to Trump, there have been “fruitful talks” aimed at completely resolving the conflict in the Middle East. He also announced that all planned military strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure would be paused for five days.

The message—written in capital letters on his social media—has been seen as one of his most conciliatory statements since the start of what he called “Operation Epic Fury,” and has created a wave of cautious optimism globally.

Iran, however, has not officially responded to Trump’s remarks. The tone of this statement contrasts sharply with the aggressive rhetoric exchanged over the weekend between the warring sides.

Details of what exactly was discussed in the negotiations remain unclear. Speculation suggests the talks may have focused on Iran’s ballistic missile program, nuclear enrichment, or a possible ceasefire. Notably, Trump had only recently downplayed the likelihood of a ceasefire.

The statement may also relate to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, though Iran has not publicly committed to reopening it. Experts believe this is unlikely, as control over the strait remains one of Iran’s strongest strategic advantages in the conflict.

Currently, President Trump is in Florida and is scheduled to travel to Memphis later today, where he is expected to deliver a speech on crime control.

In his post, Trump wrote:

“I am pleased to report that the United States and Iran have had very good and productive talks over the past two days on a complete and total end to the hostilities in the Middle East. In light of the constructive atmosphere of these discussions, I have instructed the Department of Defense to pause all military attacks on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, as talks will continue throughout the week.”