Select Language:
A new wave of attacks has been launched by Israel against Tehran. In response, Iran has pledged to strike Gulf infrastructure if the US initiates a power grid attack. Tehran also stated that the Strait remains open to all ships except those belonging to “enemies.”
In a move that could de-escalate tensions temporarily, US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he had ordered a five-day postponement of any military strikes targeting Iranian power facilities. This announcement came just hours before a deadline that threatened to intensify the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth week.
Trump posted on his Truth Social account that recent discussions with Iran had been “VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE,” seeking a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.” He emphasized that he had directed the Defense Department to delay the strikes while diplomatic efforts continue.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that, after Trump’s statement, there was no direct contact with the US or via intermediaries. An unnamed source indicated that Trump pulled back after hearing Iran might respond by attacking all regional power plants.
Sources familiar with Israeli military plans suggested that the US has kept Israel informed about negotiations with Tehran. It’s likely that Israel will also suspend targeting Iranian energy infrastructure in deference to the US.
The Prime Minister’s office has not responded to requests for comment regarding US-Iran negotiations or the suspension of attacks on Iranian targets.
Following Trump’s remarks, oil prices, which briefly declined by around 13%, fell below $100 a barrel but later recovered to approximately $105. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures rebounded, climbing over 2%.
Previously, Trump had warned that Iran’s power plants would be destroyed if it did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic within 48 hours, setting a deadline for around 7:44 p.m. EDT Monday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened retaliation, vowing to attack Israel’s power facilities and those supporting US bases across the Gulf if Trump proceeded with any strikes.
The ongoing war, which started on February 28, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths, disrupting markets, raising fuel costs, fueling inflation concerns globally, and unsettling Western military alliances.
The possibility of strikes on the Gulf’s electrical grid has heightened fears of widespread disruptions to freshwater supplies from desalination plants, which supply a significant portion of water in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Power outages could be devastating to Iran’s Gulf neighbors, whose per capita electricity consumption is approximately five times higher.
These nations rely heavily on seawater desalination to meet drinking water needs—Bahrain and Qatar depend entirely on it, while more than 80% of UAE’s and half of Saudi Arabia’s water come from such facilities. Iran has effectively closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and LNG shipments pass.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
