Trump says US will halt military strikes on Iranian power plants for 5 days

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US would halt military strikes on Iranian power plants for five days following discussions with Tehran.Trump said on social media that he had instructed the Department of Defence to “postpone any and all military strikes” against power and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, “subject to success of ongoing meetings and discussions”.The sharp but temporary de-escalation came as Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum, issued on Saturday, for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears deadline. He warned that Iran’s energy infrastructure would be “hit and obliterated” if his demand was not met.The waterway has become a chokepoint in the US-Israel war on Iran, which has spilled across the region. Roughly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz.Tehran has been striking the energy infrastructure of nearby Gulf States, which rank among the world’s largest producers and exporters of oil and gas, leading to soaring global oil prices.More to follow...