Trump delays Iran power plant strikes for 5 days following positive talks with Tehran

Monday, 23 March 2026 | Web Desk

President Donald Trump has ordered a postponement of planned strikes on Iranian power plants, issuing a five-day delay following what he described as “positive talks” with Iranian officials, according to media reports.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: We have had very strong talks with Iran. If they carry through with them, it will end the conflict. They want to make a deal, we want to make a deal. pic.twitter.com/xRkJtDAyPa
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 23, 2026

The decision comes after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Saturday demanding that Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face a devastating assault on its power infrastructure .

‘Positive Talks’ Underway

According to reports, the President stated that constructive discussions are ongoing with Iranian authorities, leading to the decision to temporarily hold back on military action against the country’s electrical grid.

Trump had earlier warned that if the strait remained effectively closed, the US would “obliterate” Iranian power plants, “starting with the biggest one first” . The deadline was originally set to expire at approximately 7:45 PM EDT (11:45 PM GMT) on Monday.

Iran’s Retaliatory Warning

Iran had responded defiantly to Trump’s ultimatum, warning that any attack on its power plants would trigger a devastating response targeting critical infrastructure across the Gulf region .

Iran’s military command warned that if US threats were carried out, “the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt” —a process that could take years.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened that vital infrastructure across the region would “be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed” .

Power Plants Remain Key Targets

Despite the postponement, the White House has made clear that Trump’s threat remains on the table should negotiations fail. The President’s original warning reflected growing political pressure in the US as rising fuel prices impact American consumers—the result of Iran’s retaliatory actions in the oil-rich Gulf.

Iran’s IRGC has threatened to target power plants in any country hosting US bases, as well as “economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares” .

Diplomatic Channels Open

Behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent days, with reports of indirect communication facilitated through intermediaries including Egypt, Qatar, and the United Kingdom. Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a “constructive” 20-minute call on Sunday evening, agreeing that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is “essential to ensure stability in the global energy market”.

However, significant gaps remain between the two sides. Iran has demanded conditions including an immediate ceasefire and guarantees against future attacks, demands US officials have largely rejected.

Humanitarian Concerns

The threat to Iran’s power infrastructure carries immense humanitarian implications. A woman in Tehran told BBC Persian: “I’m terribly worried, because without electricity Iran will be destroyed and will become everyone’s nightmare”.

For Gulf neighbors, the threat is equally grave. The region is heavily dependent on desalination plants for drinking water, facilities that require massive amounts of electricity to operate. Iranian officials have explicitly warned that water desalination facilities would be targeted in any retaliation.

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Oil Markets React

Global oil prices spiked earlier Monday, with US benchmark crude briefly touching the $100-per-barrel mark as Trump’s deadline approached. The Strait of Hormuz typically handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, and current traffic has plummeted by over 94 percent since the war began.

The five-day postponement offers a temporary reprieve, but the underlying confrontation remains unresolved. With both sides maintaining their hardline positions and military operations continuing elsewhere, the window for diplomacy remains narrow.