(SINL NIGERIA) Following talks with Tehran, and that negotiations are set to continue this week, US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had ordered a stop to his threatened strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.
The postponement comes just hours before the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Washington, demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The ultimatum followed a warning by Trump on 21 March that the United States would “obliterate” Iranian power facilities if maritime access through the strategic waterway was not restored “fully open, without threat.”
The diplomatic pause comes against the backdrop of escalating conflict in the region. Hostilities, widely referred to as “Operation Epic Fury,” began on 28 February 2026, with a large-scale joint US-Israeli offensive targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, missile bases, and senior leadership.
The conflict has since intensified, with Iran reportedly launching retaliatory missile strikes on US military installations in the Gulf and on Israeli cities, while also disrupting global shipping by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has driven oil prices above $126 per barrel and triggered volatility in global markets.
