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Updated: US–Iran tensions persist, despite temporary pause in strikes on energy infrastructure

23 March 2026

On Monday (23 March), US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, citing “good and productive conversations” with Tehran. 

Trump stated in a Truth Social post that he had instructed the Department of War to delay planned operations, with the pause contingent on the outcome of ongoing diplomatic engagements.

“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,” he wrote.

This exchange follows a warning issued by Trump on Saturday (21 March), in which he threatened to target Iranian power plants unless Tehran “fully open[s]” the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping within 48 hours. 

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) signalled its readiness to retaliate in kind. “We are determined to respond to any threat at the same level as it creates in terms of deterrence,” the statement read. “If you hit electricity, we hit electricity.”

No details of the ongoing discussions have been made public.

Update (23-24 March): Tehran has denied the claim. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said no talks had been held with the US.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) called Trump’s words “psychological operations” that had no impact on Tehran’s fight, while parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said it was “fake news … used to manipulate the financial and oil markets”.

Source: commonspace.eu with Reuters and The Guardian

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