Trump extends deadline Iran energy plants as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate, placing global energy markets under strain and raising concerns about wider conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he will delay military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure until April 6, giving Tehran additional time to respond to U.S. demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes after Iran rejected an earlier 15-point U.S. proposal intended to halt the conflict.
The war, which began just four weeks ago, has already killed thousands and disrupted the global economy. Energy prices have surged, intensifying fears of inflation worldwide. The U.S. and Israel initiated airstrikes on Iran on February 28 while nuclear negotiations were ongoing, though these talks have yet to produce a meaningful agreement.
On March 26, Trump signaled during a White House cabinet meeting that pressure on Iran would increase if no deal is reached. He later confirmed on social media that attacks on Iranian energy plants would be suspended for ten days, until 8 p.m. Eastern daylight time on April 6. In his post, he insisted that discussions were progressing well, contradicting reports by major media outlets that suggested otherwise.
Iran has publicly denied participating in any negotiations with Washington, and Trump has not clarified who represents Iran in these talks. Many Iranian officials have been killed during the conflict, complicating diplomatic engagement.
Earlier, on March 23, Trump had paused planned strikes for five days. The current extension doubles that period, following a claim that Iran requested a seven-day pause. Sources cited by the Wall Street Journal suggested Iran did not formally request the ten-day extension.
Iran has warned that it could resume attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf if U.S. strikes proceed. The country has already effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route responsible for transporting about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. This obstruction has further destabilized global markets.
Iranian media reported new airstrikes targeting residential areas in Tehran, Qom, and Urumia in the early hours of Friday. In Qom, three homes in the Pardisan district were destroyed, resulting in at least six deaths. In Tehran, Red Crescent rescue teams pulled a survivor from the rubble of a damaged apartment building.
The situation highlights the fragility of the region, the risks to global energy security, and the difficulty of achieving any diplomatic resolution while hostilities continue. Analysts warn that any misstep in this high-stakes standoff could trigger further escalation, affecting markets and civilian populations beyond the immediate conflict zone.
