US President Donald Trump has halted strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid ongoing talks regarding the conflict in the Middle East – some in Iran say his comments are driving them ‘crazy’
Iranians have issued a plea to Donald Trump as they beg the US President to postpone further strikes on energy infrastructure.
Iran has been in conflict with the US since February 28, when the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites. Iran responded by striking sites across the Middle East, plunging the region into conflict. Energy infrastructure has been targeted by both US-Israeli forces in Iran and Iranian forces across the Middle East.
In a post on his social media site Truth Social on Monday, March 23, Mr Trump said that the US and Iran had, over the last two days, “very good and productive conversations” about the resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.
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The post, written in all caps, continued: “Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”
Iranians, speaking to BBC Persian, reacted to Mr Trump’s post.
A man in his 20s, who resides in capital Tehran, said it will be very costly for Iranians.
“Whether the Islamic Republic remains or realises that it is on its last legs, it will increase the cost to the Iranian people as much as possible,” the man said.
A woman in her 40s, also from Tehran, said she believes Trump wants to give the Iranian leadership “another ultimatum”.
Her theory is: “If they don’t open up the Strait of Hormuz, he will strike because he wants to put pressure on them, either by capturing Kharg Island or by attacking them on land.”
A woman, in her 20s, who resides in the north of the country, said: “Did you see Trump’s new message? It’s driving us crazy.”
Trump also issued an update about Iran’s new Supreme Leader – who the president suggested may be dead. He told reporters the US had not been talking to Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the previous Supreme Leader who was killed in the initial strikes.
“We have not heard from the son,” he told reporters. “We don’t know if he’s living.”
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