Trump Delays U.S. Strikes on Iran Energy Facilities Again as Talks Advance

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 10-day pause until Monday, April 6, on U.S. strikes against Iran’s energy plants, following what he described as a request from the Iranian government.

In a statement shared by the White House, Trump said talks were “going very well,” pushing back against reports suggesting otherwise and signaling a temporary de-escalation amid heightened tensions over Iran’s energy assets and regional shipping routes.

However, Iran has not requested a 10-day pause on potential strikes targeting its energy facilities and has yet to provide a final response to a 15-point plan aimed at ending the conflict, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing mediators involved in the peace talks.

The extension marks the second delay after Trump last week issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to allow oil tankers safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global crude flows. Trump said Iran has since permitted 10 tankers to transit the waterway as a sign of goodwill during negotiations.

Speaking earlier at a Cabinet meeting, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said there were “strong signs” Tehran was prepared to engage, confirming for the first time that Washington had delivered a 15-point action list to Iranian officials through intermediaries from Pakistan.

Trump said the pause in potential strikes was intended to support ongoing diplomatic efforts, even as he rejected suggestions the administration was seeking a rapid deal to end tensions linked to the broader conflict in the Middle East. Witkoff added the coming days would determine whether negotiations could produce a breakthrough or lead to further escalation.