On Day 25 of the ongoing conflict, US President Donald Trump announced a surprising pause in planned strikes against Iran’s energy and power infrastructure, citing “very good” and “meaningful” discussions with Iran over the past two days. Trump expressed optimism about a potential deal, claiming Iran is willing to move toward peace and possibly abandon its nuclear ambitions. He directed the Department of War to delay attacks for five days, contingent on positive progress in negotiations. The decision came after a reported 48-hour ultimatum by the US, demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face major strikes. Talks allegedly involved US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with mediation from Middle Eastern nations, while Iran was represented by Abbas Araghchi. However, Iran has denied any such negotiations, suggesting the US stepped back due to Iranian threats of retaliatory strikes on regional power infrastructure. The situation remains uncertain, raising questions over whether this is genuine diplomacy or strategic maneuvering.


