Trump pauses Iran energy strikes, says Witkoff talking to 'top person'
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is speaking to a “top person” in Iran as he announced a five-day pause on targeting Iran's power infrastructure.
In remarks to reporters, Trump declined to specify who in Iran Witkoff is speaking to, describing them as "the people that seem to be running it" and saying, "And they seem that based on, really, fact, because things they've said have taken place."
Trump said he would not name them out of fear for their lives. “I don’t want them to be killed. Nobody wants that job right now," he said.
Israeli outlets reported that Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is leading the talks on the Iranian side.
Earlier on Monday, Trump declared a halt to strikes on Iranian energy facilities, citing progress in talks with Tehran.
In a Truth Social post, the president said that Washington and Tehran “have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.” Trump added that he ordered the military to “postpone” strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, clarifying that the pause is “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”
Trump’s announcement sent oil prices plunging 10% and Brent crude was trading at around $100.90 a barrel as of 10:30 a.m. EST. Before the announcement, the global benchmark was priced above $113 a barrel as Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the wider conflict rattled markets.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi lamented the outbreak of war in a Monday X post and declared that the Gulf state is working to improve the situation in the strategic strait, through which about 20% of global oil exports typically flow.
“Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making. This is already causing widespread economic problems and I fear they promise to get much worse if the war continues. Oman is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz,” said Albusaidi.