Iran says it forced President Trump to back down from his threats to strike Iranian power plants after Tehran vowed to take out similar facilities in West Asia in retaliation.
An Iranian “senior security official” told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency that the U.S. president “retreated in the face of credible military threats.”
Mr. Trump said Monday the U.S. and Iran had “very good and productive talks” over the weekend about ending hostilities. He announced a five-day moratorium on targeting Iran’s energy grid as the talks continue.
The unidentified security official rejected any talks between Tehran and Washington, insisting that Mr. Trump blinked in the face of the Islamic republic’s “fierce response” to the U.S. and Israeli attacks.
“The source explained that pressure from financial markets and threats to bonds within the U.S. and the West have increased, describing it as another significant factor for Trump’s retreat,” according to the Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The senior Iranian official said no negotiations are ongoing or have taken place between Tehran and the Trump administration.
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“With the current state of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will revert to pre-war conditions, nor will there be stability in energy markets,” Tasnim reported.
Mr. Trump posted Saturday on Truth Social that the U.S. would “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power plants in 48 hours if Tehran didn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said only “hostile and harmful” ship traffic would be restricted from passing through the crucial chokepoint.
“It has not been fully closed and remains under our intelligent control,” a government spokesman said Sunday. “Harmless passage continues under specific regulations that ensure our security and interests.”
