Trump Announces Five-Day Pause on Strikes Against Iran’s Power Infrastructure, Citing ‘Productive’ Talks With Tehran
US president orders postponement of planned attacks after issuing 48-hour ultimatum; Iran denies any direct communication, claims Trump ‘backed down’
WASHINGTON — March 23, 2026 — President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has ordered the postponement of all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, stating that the United States and Iran have held “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days regarding a potential resolution to the conflict .
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the discussions would continue throughout the week and that the pause in military action is contingent on the success of ongoing talks .
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“I am pleased 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 wrote .
“Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, 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, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions,” the president added .
Ultimatum Expired Hours Earlier
The announcement came just hours before the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum Trump had issued on Saturday, in which he warned that the United States would “obliterate” Iranian power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping .
The strategically vital waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows, has been effectively closed since the conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran . The disruption has sent global oil prices soaring and fueled widespread inflation fears across international markets .
Iran Denies Direct Talks, Claims Trump ‘Backed Down’
Iranian officials swiftly contradicted Trump’s account, asserting that no direct or indirect communication had taken place between Tehran and Washington .
Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), quoted an unnamed security official as saying there had been “no direct or indirect communication with the United States or through intermediaries” .
According to Iranian state media, Trump’s decision to delay strikes came after Tehran issued a firm warning that any US attack on Iranian energy infrastructure would be met with retaliation against energy facilities across the entire region .
“After the Islamic Republic threatened that in the event of any US attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, it would target the energy infrastructure of the entire region, Trump backed down and said he had ordered the postponement of the attack,” the Iranian Embassy in Kabul posted on X .
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf had earlier warned that Iran would consider vital infrastructure across the region to be legitimate targets, including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations .
An unnamed senior security official told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency that “from the beginning of the war until today, messages have been sent to Tehran from some mediators, the clear answer of which has been that we will continue to defend until we achieve the necessary deterrence” .
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“There have been no negotiations and there are none, and with this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war conditions nor will there be peace in the energy markets,” the official added .
Iranian Officials Troll Trump with ‘You’re Fired’ Video
In a further display of defiance, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a video message over the weekend trolling Trump with his own catchphrase from the television show “The Apprentice” .
In the video shared on X, an IRGC spokesperson says in English: “Hey, Trump, you’re fired. You are familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter” .
The video followed Trump’s initial 48-hour ultimatum, in which he had threatened to “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened .
Market Reaction
Trump’s announcement of the five-day pause triggered immediate relief in global energy markets. Brent crude oil prices fell to approximately $96 per barrel following the news, while natural gas prices also declined .
Equity markets also showed signs of recovery, with the FTSE 100 rising 0.5 percent after falling more than 2 percent earlier in the session . The pause in escalation eased some of the immediate concerns that had gripped investors since Trump’s ultimatum was issued on Saturday .
Confusion Over Diplomatic Channel
Despite Trump’s assertion of direct conversations with Iran, the conflicting accounts from Washington and Tehran have left significant uncertainty about whether substantive diplomacy is actually underway .
Trump did not specify in his Truth Social post whether the conversations were direct, through intermediaries, or with whom the discussions were held . The absence of detail has fueled speculation about the nature and scope of any potential negotiations .
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has not commented directly on the possibility of indirect talks through regional mediators. Türkiye has previously served as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington in past negotiations, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, over the weekend .
Analysts note that even if direct talks are not occurring, channels of communication through third parties could be active, leaving room for both sides to claim different interpretations of the same diplomatic contacts .
Broader Conflict Continues
The pause in strikes on energy infrastructure comes as the broader conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to unfold. The war, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, has resulted in more than 2,000 deaths and caused widespread disruption to global energy markets .
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation .
The Strait of Hormuz remains the central pressure point in the conflict. Tehran has used its control over the waterway as its most significant leverage, and analysts say reopening it without broader concessions appears unlikely in the short term .
What Comes Next
The five-day pause in strikes offers a temporary reprieve from the immediate threat of escalation, but significant questions remain about the path forward .
It remains unclear whether the coming days will produce substantive diplomatic progress or simply delay military action. Trump’s statement indicated that conversations would continue throughout the week, and the five-day pause is explicitly “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions” .
For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, global energy markets remain volatile, and the underlying risks that have driven the conflict for nearly four weeks show little sign of abating .
As one Gulf News analysis noted, “Whether Trump’s pause signals the start of genuine diplomacy — or simply a temporary delay in military action — remains unclear. For now, the only certainty is that the conflict’s most dangerous flashpoint has been deferred, not resolved” .
SOURCES / INPUTS
BERNAMA: Trump pauses strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for 5 days after ‘productive’ talks
The Statesman: No direct or indirect communication with US, Trump backed down after Iran’s warning
The Week: US won’t hit Iran’s energy infra for 5 days; Tehran claims Trump backed down
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