US President Donald Trump on March 23 asked the Department of War to postpone attack plans targeting Iran's energy facilities after exchanges described as "positive" with Iran. This decision was made after two days of dialogue that Mr. Trump said was constructive and aimed at a comprehensive resolution of tensions in the Middle East.
According to Mr. Trump's statement on social media, Washington will postpone all airstrikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for 5 days. He emphasized that the decision depends on the progress of ongoing discussions between the two sides.
Previously, Mr. Trump warned that he would "eliminate" Iran's energy facilities if Tehran did not fully reopen maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. This route is currently largely disrupted after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, causing global energy prices to rise sharply.
The US President also said that if Iran does not meet the requirements, the attacks could target many power plants, starting from the largest facilities, including the Damavand gas plant located southeast of Tehran. In addition, US Special Envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz did not rule out the possibility of attacking the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the largest facility in the region.
A previous explosion occurred near this area, prompting the International Atomic Energy Agency to call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid the risk of nuclear incidents.
Meanwhile, Iran denied that it had conducted negotiations with the US, including through intermediaries. The Iranian Embassy in Afghanistan said that Mr. Trump had backfired after Tehran issued a tough warning that it would respond by attacking energy facilities throughout the region if targeted.
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain the main hotspot, as this important transport route is restricted from operating, increasing the risk of disruption to global oil and gas supplies. The delay in attacks shows efforts to temporarily de-escalate, but the situation still contains many potential fluctuations.
