Iran War update: Tehran claims victory, Iran state TV announces Donald Trump forced to back down on Strait of Hormuz, attacking power plants. What will happen now?

Iranian state television on Monday offered Tehran's first reaction to US President Donald Trump's decision to extend a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz by five days. The deadline should have been around 0000 GMT on Tuesday. Instead, Trump on Monday said he extended it by five days. Reacting to the news, Iranian state television said in a graphic on screen: “US president backs down following Iran's firm warning.


Iran's ​Fars news ​agency, citing a source, said ‌there are ⁠no ⁠direct ​or indirect communications ​with the United States, ​despite ⁠U.S. President ‌Donald ​Trump's ​recent statement ⁠about "productive" talks with Tehran.

Donald Trump on Iran Power Plants

Fars ​also said ​Trump backed down on ‌targeting Iranian power plants after ​Iran ​warned ⁠it would target power plants ​across West Asia in response.


President Donald Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying the U.S. will hold off on striking power plant strikes for five days.


Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social site hours ahead of a deadline. Trump said the U.S. and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” that could yield “a complete and total resolution” in the war. Talks will continue “throughout the week,” Trump said.


Iran had earlier threatened to strike regional power plants and float mines in the Persian Gulf if Trump went ahead with his threat to bomb Iranian energy stations or ordered a land invasion.


The death toll from the war has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.


Trump added that the suspension of his threat to attack Iranian power plants was “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.” Trump’s announcement came as the United Arab Emirates reported its air defenses were attempting to intercept new incoming Iranian fire Monday afternoon.


Prior to Trump’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged talking by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.