Donald Trump spent the weekend beating his chest about bombing Iran. By Monday morning, he was hitting the brakes. Hard.
After issuing a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to “obliterate” Iran if it didn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a key global oil route—Trump abruptly reversed course just hours before his own deadline expired.
The about-face was dramatic.
On Saturday, Trump warned he would unleash military strikes if Iran didn’t comply. Iran fired back, warning it would “irreversibly” destroy critical infrastructure across the region if attacked. The stakes couldn’t have been higher, with global markets already bracing for an energy shock.
Then came Monday.
Out of nowhere, Trump announced a total shift in tone, claiming progress through supposed talks with Iran—talks that Iran immediately denied even happened.
“I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, 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 posted.
Yes—“PLEASE.”
He quickly deleted the post and reuploaded a corrected version after fixing multiple typos, including “WITCH” instead of “WHICH.”
But the substance didn’t change.
Trump said he had ordered a pause on planned strikes:
“I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD…”
That’s a stunning reversal from “obliterate” to “pause.”
Iran wasn’t buying it.
Its foreign ministry dismissed Trump’s claims outright, saying no such talks took place and accusing him of trying to manipulate global markets and buy time.
According to Iranian officials, Trump’s comments were “part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans.”
In other words: they’re calling it bluff.
And the timing raises questions.
Trump’s sudden “five-day” delay conveniently runs through the end of the trading week—giving markets a chance to stabilize after days of panic. Oil prices had already surged, stocks were sliding, and warnings of a broader economic shock were growing louder.
The head of the International Energy Agency didn’t mince words, warning of a “major, major threat” to the global economy if the situation keeps escalating.
Meanwhile, Trump’s war isn’t exactly winning over the public.
Recent polling shows a clear majority of Americans oppose the conflict, with support sinking and independent approval dropping sharply in just days.
Even analysts are questioning the strategy.
One oil market expert said Trump had backed himself “into a corner” with an unrealistic ultimatum, noting that Iran was unlikely to fold under pressure—and fully capable of escalating in return.
So after days of threats, market panic, and rising tensions, Trump blinked.
He went from promising destruction to announcing “productive conversations” that may not have even happened.
And now, the clock resets—for five days.
