A cargo ship carrying vehicles sails through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP)
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is pausing its attacks on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, following what he called “very good and productive conversations” regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.
Writing on Truth Social, the president said he has instructed the Pentagon to postpone such military strikes for a period of five days, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings.
Iran denied talks had been held. “No negotiations have been held with the US,” Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X, adding that it was a ploy to “manipulate the financial and oil markets.”
The announcement came as the U.S. prepared to enter its fourth week of Operation Epic Fury, which has targeted Iranian military capabilities and top government leaders. Iran has responded to the attacks by targeting U.S. bases in the region and threatening oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting global concerns about rising fuel costs.
Trump on Saturday had threatened to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure if it did not open the critical commercial waterway within 48 hours, vowing to “obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
Trump’s announcement Monday sent oil prices plummeting. The cost of Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, was hovering around $113 per barrel before Trump’s post and quickly dropped to about $100 a barrel.
Iranian state television characterized the pause as a win, saying, “U.S. president backs down following Iran’s firm warning,” according to The Associated Press.
The president’s timeline for an end to the war remains unclear. On Friday, he posted on Truth Social that the U.S. is considering “winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East.”
At the same time, the military is preparing to deploy an additional 2,500 Marines and at least three more ships to the region, Stars and Stripes reported last week.
The death toll from the war so far includes 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. service members, according to the AP.
