Trump Halts Planned Iran Energy Strikes, Calls Talks "Positive"; Markets Surge; Netanyahu Vows Attacks Continue

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced that planned attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure have been temporarily halted following recent talks with the Islamic Republic. Calling the negotiations "positive," Trump said Tehran is "serious" this time and that reaching a deal is possible, but emphasized that Washington will never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Trump also claimed that in recent weeks, Iran's military capabilities have been severely degraded, with much of its missile program, drone program, and military infrastructure destroyed. He added that the Islamic Republic's leadership is in crisis, and after a series of targeted official killings, "no one wants to take on that responsibility." He concluded by saying the Islamic Republic has "one more chance" to end its threats, adding that the world will soon be safer. --- Hours after Trump announced he was ordering the military to delay attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, US stock markets saw their biggest rally in four months. According to Reuters, oil prices fell more than 8% Monday morning US time, the dollar weakened against major currencies, and government borrowing costs dropped significantly. Markets remain skeptical about an imminent end to the war. David Bianco, Chief Investment Officer for America at DWS, told Reuters: "This buys time. We're in a very intense conflict... Maybe they need more time to prepare for whatever they plan to do. I don't see this conflict returning to normal overnight." --- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message: "This morning I spoke with our friend, President Trump. President Trump believes there is an opportunity to leverage the great achievements of the Israeli army and the US Army and achieve the objectives of the war through a deal — a deal that preserves our vital interests. At the same time, we are continuing our attacks both in Iran and in Lebanon. We are disrupting the missile program and the nuclear program, and we continue to deliver heavy blows to Hezbollah. Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and this will continue." --- Trump said the US military sank Islamic Republic warships "for fun." Speaking to a group of American soldiers, Trump said: "We destroyed 158 of their ships. I told my forces, why didn't you capture them as prizes? Were they good ships? They said they were very good. I said we could have used them. They said sinking them to the bottom of the sea was more fun. But they don't exist anymore — so we've wiped out and destroyed their navy." --- Several sources close to the Islamic Republic claimed Monday that the US has proposed — through intermediary governments — that Vice President JD Vance negotiate with Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran's Parliament. The website Iran Nuances, close to Islamic Republic security sources, and Tasnim News Agency wrote hours after Trump announced de-escalation talks with Tehran: "The United States, through intermediaries, has proposed talks between JD Vance and Ghalibaf. Iran has not yet responded to this proposal." Journalist Abbas Aslani, close to Islamic Republic security and intelligence sources, confirmed on X that Tehran officials have not yet responded. --- Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone Monday with his counterparts in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Oman, and South Korea. In these calls, Araghchi described "insecurity in the region and in the Strait of Hormuz as a direct result of US and Israeli attacks."