US President Donald Trump (Photo from AP archive)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday explained why he granted Iran a 10-day cooling-off period, describing it as a response to a “gift” from Tehran that allows eight oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while halting planned strikes on high-value energy infrastructure.
He also portrayed the move as a sign of progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts amid tensions in the Middle East.Speaking to Fox News, Trump said that Iran has contacted his administration for more time as part of ongoing communication between the two sides.
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“They very kindly said to me, through my team, can we have more time?” “Because we’re talking about tomorrow night, which is very fast, and if they don’t do what they have to do, I’m going to destroy their power plants,” Trump said.
MAGA added that the 10-day extension was granted after Iran allowed eight oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a “gift” during the negotiations. The US President said: “We talked about the eight ships, the gift I talked about a few days ago, but they asked for seven, and I gave them ten. They were very grateful for that.”Earlier today, Trump announced that the cessation of strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure will be extended for another 10 days, until Monday, April 6, 2026, as talks continue.
In a post on Truth Social, he said the decision came after a request from the Iranian government and insisted the negotiations were going well.“At the request of the Iranian government, please use this statement to indicate that I will temporarily postpone the power plant demolition period for 10 days until Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET,” the post read. “Talks are ongoing, and despite false statements to the contrary by fake news media and others, they are progressing very well.”Earlier this week, Trump already ordered a temporary halt to military action. He said on Monday that he had instructed the US War Department to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy sites for five days, citing ongoing diplomatic engagement.In another Truth Social post, he described the recent discussions as constructive and aimed at resolving hostilities. He said: “I am pleased to inform you that, during the past two days, the United States of America and Iran held very good and fruitful talks regarding reaching a complete and comprehensive solution to the hostilities in the Middle East.”He added: “Based on the content and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive talks, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the War Department to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, conditional on the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” She added.Before that, Trump had issued a sharp warning to Tehran, giving it 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face military action. In a previous Truth Social post, he said: “If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz, without threat, within 48 hours of this specified time, the USA will strike and destroy its various power plants, starting with the largest ones first!”The latest extension, first from a 48-hour deadline to a five-day pause, and now an additional 10 days, highlights the shifting timelines as diplomacy continues alongside rising tensions.
