Donald Trump has extended by 10 days a pause on threatened strikes against Iran’s energy facilities, saying the move came at Tehran’s request as talks to end the war were “going very well.”
The US president had given Tehran a deadline of Friday to enter negotiations to end the war or face the “total destruction” of its energy facilities.
But in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said the deadline would now be extended until 6 April, giving both sides more time to negotiate. “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” Mr Trump posted.
Tehran has denied any direct talks are happening.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon was considering sending another 10,000 troops to the Middle East. The potential deployment would probably include infantry and armored vehicles, according to the WSJ. Thousands of US troops have reportedly already been dispatched to the region.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering capturing Iran’s main oil hub, Kharg Island, to pressure the country to open the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.
