Trump extends pause on strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure to 6 April, citing progress in talks

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is extending a pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iranian energy plants and infrastructure by an additional 10 days, pushing the deadline to 6 April at 8:00 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT on 7 April).

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that indirect talks with Iran are “going very well,” despite media reports to the contrary, and that the extension comes at the request of the Iranian government. He had previously ordered a five-day halt on 23 March.

“Talks are ongoing and… they are going very well,” Trump said, while warning that failure to reach a deal could make the U.S. Iran’s “worst nightmare,” including potential U.S. control over Iranian oil.

The decision provides a temporary reprieve for Iran’s energy sector amid a four-week-old war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran that has killed thousands, disrupted global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and driven oil prices up around 40% (with Brent crude recently surpassing $105 per barrel). Iran has blocked key fuel exports via the strait, which handles about 20% of global oil and LNG trade, exacerbating inflationary pressures worldwide.

The conflict escalated on 28 February when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran after negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program collapsed. Iran has retaliated with missile attacks on Israel and strikes on U.S. allies in the Gulf. Recent U.S.-Israeli operations have targeted sites including Bandar Abbas, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Qom.

Trump’s threats specifically target Iran’s power plants and broader energy infrastructure, raising concerns over civilian impacts on electricity, water, and fuel supplies. Iran has rejected a U.S. 15-point proposal as biased toward American and Israeli interests, demanding instead security guarantees, compensation, formal recognition of its role in the Strait of Hormuz, and inclusion of Lebanon in any ceasefire. Indirect talks continue through mediators, primarily Pakistan, with support from Turkey and Egypt.

Russian reaction and the Bushehr nuclear power plant

A notable element of the energy infrastructure at risk is Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the country’s only operational nuclear facility and its largest power plant in terms of strategic importance. Built with significant assistance from Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom (which completed the first 1,000-megawatt unit in 2011 and is involved in additional units), Bushehr has become a flashpoint.

Russia has reacted strongly to reported U.S.-Israeli strikes near the plant. In recent days, Moscow condemned multiple incidents, including a projectile strike on 24 March in the immediate vicinity of the operational reactor – described by the Russian Foreign Ministry as “extremely outrageous,” “reckless,” and “irresponsible,” with accusations that the U.S. and Israel are risking a nuclear disaster.

Rosatom has evacuated additional staff: after an earlier incident, it pulled out 163 more workers, leaving around 300 on site. Construction on new units remains suspended. Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev, have warned of “irreparable consequences,” called for a safety zone around the facility, and signaled concerns directly to Washington. The IAEA has also expressed deep concern over the risk of a major radiological accident.

Russia’s involvement adds a layer of international complexity: as the primary foreign partner in Iran’s civilian nuclear program, Moscow views attacks near Bushehr as a direct threat not only to regional stability but also to its own strategic and economic interests in the region.

Markets reacted nervously on 26 March, with sharp drops in stock indexes amid fears of prolonged disruption.

Boots on the ground

Trump has authorized the deployment of additional U.S. ground forces to the Middle East theatre, including more than 1,000 soldiers from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division and thousands of Marines aboard amphibious assault ships. While the White House continues to emphasize indirect talks and a possible diplomatic resolution, this buildup of “boots on the ground” capability – intended to support contingency operations, secure key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, or protect regional allies – risks drawing American forces into a more direct and protracted land campaign, potentially escalating the four-week-old war into a longer and costlier engagement reminiscent of past U.S. interventions in the region.

This development echoes several previous instances in which President Trump pursued diplomatic talks with Iran only to follow up with decisive military action when negotiations stalled or failed to meet U.S. demands.

With Reuters, edited by EUalive.

Caption: US President Donald J. Trump (C), with Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R), responds to a question from the news media during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 26 March 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL