Here are the latest developments:Donald Trump said he will extend ā once again ā his pause on his threat to attack Iranās energy infrastructure for 10 days until 6 April, claiming that the request came from Tehran and that talks were going āvery wellā. The US president threatened last Saturday to would strike Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the strait of Hormuz. Then, on Monday he postponed his threat for five days (until Friday), citing āvery good and productive conversationsā with Iran on ending the war (which Tehran dismissed as āfake newsā designed to āmanipulateā the oil markets). The price of Brent crude also dropped following Trumpās latest announcement.
A day after Tehran dismissed Trumpās 15-point ceasefire plan, the US president claimed that Iran was ābegging to make a deal,ā and that he wasnāt the one pushing for negotiations. Trump rejected reports that he was looking for an exit ramp, as oil prices soar and political pressure mounts to avoid the kind of drawn-out Middle East war he once spurned. āI read a story today that Iām desperate to make a deal,ā Trump told reporters. āIām the opposite of desperate.
However, Trump said Iran is allowing some oil tankers through strait of Hormuz as a sign of good faith for talks. A Thai-flagged cargo ship that was hit by unknown projectiles in the strait of Hormuz earlier this month has run aground off Iranās Qeshm Island, Iranās Tasnim news agency said on Friday. Continue reading...