Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if it doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the next two days.
"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
However, early Monday, he changed his tune.
On Monday, he said U.S. strikes on Iran energy infrastructure would halt for five days after "very good" and "productive" conversations with leaders in Tehran.
In a Monday morning Truth Social post, Trump wrote in all-caps that the U.S. and Iran "over the last two days" have had "conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.
"Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed and constructive conversations," which he said would carry on "throughout the week," the president has "instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period," he wrote. Trump noted this was "subject" to the talks.
Iranian state media described the president's announcement as Trump "backing down" while denying talks were taking place between the two sides.
The development comes as fuel prices remain volatile amid Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane.
Read more about Trump's initial threat here, from The Hill's Ryan Mancini and read about his later comments here, from The Hill's Ashleigh Fields and Julia Manchester.
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