On Monday, Donald Trump declared he has stopped airstrikes against Iran to create room for diplomatic negotiations, but warned that military actions would resume if talks do not yield results, as reported by EFE news agency.
The President made these remarks aboard Air Force One while en route to an event in Michigan, crediting the initiative to Tehran: "They very politely asked us: 'Please, let's stop and meet.'"
"They want to meet, and we are meeting. Let's see what happens. It's possible we could reach an agreement," Trump told the press.
This pause follows 13 consecutive days of daily bombings against the Islamic Republic, which began on July 8 after Trump announced the end of the ceasefire agreed upon in June during the NATO summit in Ankara.
Military Pressure and Diplomatic Timelines
The most recent strike took place last Thursday, marking the thirteenth day in a row of U.S. military action.
Trump justified the military pressure as a necessary condition for Iran to come to the negotiating table: "We have significantly dismantled their military. The only reason they want to meet is because we've hit them very hard," he stated.
However, the President was firm about the timeframe for diplomacy: "Not much time. They either progress quickly or they don't progress at all," he replied when asked how long he would give diplomacy a chance.
Reactions and International Responses
In statements to the digital outlet Axios, Trump was even more direct: "We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don't work out, we will return to robust military actions."
Iran, on its part, confirmed the absence of new attacks since Friday, but dismissed Washington's narrative.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Bagaei, stated in a press conference that "what currently exists cannot be called a ceasefire" and denied holding direct negotiations with the United States.
"We currently have no negotiations with the United States. The talks we are involved in are with Oman, focusing on necessary measures regarding the Strait of Hormuz," Bagaei emphasized.
The Iranian spokesman also dismissed reports from Pakistani and Arab media about a supposed ten-day ceasefire: "Do not pay too much attention to these media speculations," although he acknowledged there could be message exchanges with Washington through intermediaries like Pakistan and Qatar.
Market Reactions and Future Plans
Markets reacted promptly to the announcement: Brent crude oil prices dropped by more than 5%, and Wall Street opened higher, with the Dow Jones rising 1.18% and the S&P 500 climbing nearly 0.8%.
The announcement of the pause comes a day before Trump is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, who traveled to the U.S. capital to attend the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
Trump previewed the content of that conversation: "I will talk to Bibi about the fact that if I weren't President, Iran would already have nuclear weapons and Israel would have been destroyed."
On July 23, just four days before this announcement, Trump had dismissed a nuclear deal with Iran "for now" at a rally in Georgia, asserting that Iran "is not ready," highlighting the rapid evolution of the diplomatic situation.
Key Questions About U.S.-Iran Relations
What prompted Trump to halt airstrikes on Iran?
Trump decided to halt airstrikes to allow for diplomatic negotiations, following a request from Iran for a meeting.
How has the market reacted to the pause in military actions?
Markets reacted with Brent crude oil prices dropping over 5%, and Wall Street opening higher, with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 both experiencing gains.
Is Iran currently negotiating directly with the United States?
According to Iranian officials, there are no direct negotiations with the United States at this time. Talks are ongoing with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
What are the implications of Trump's meeting with Netanyahu?
The meeting is expected to discuss the implications of U.S. actions in the Middle East, particularly concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions and Israel's security.