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Trump orders War Dept to postpone strikes on Iranian energy sites, citing 'productive' talks to end war
By Eric Mack
Published March 23, 2026
President Donald Trump, in an all-caps post early Monday morning, declared progress toward "resolution" of the war with Iran.
"I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS."
FOX Business' Maria Bartiromo spoke with Trump shortly after the post, and Trump stressed, "Iran wants to make a deal badly."
Trump's move followed a threat by Iran to attack Israel's power plants and those supplying U.S. bases across the Gulf region if the U.S. targets Iran's power network.
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President Donald Trump, boarding Air Force One on Friday, spent the weekend at Mar-a-Lago amid ongoing strikes on Iranian energy and the government shutdown that has left airport security lines backed up. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The post led to an immediate reaction in the oil futures market globally.
Iranian state television is denying that any negotiations are underway, but Trump rejected that reporting to Bartiromo, saying peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had spoken with their counterparts Sunday night.
The United Arab Emirates reported its air defenses were attempting to intercept new incoming Iranian fire Monday afternoon.
Prior to Trump’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged talking by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
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Speaking in Parliament, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday compared the challenges caused by the war to those faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and said India needs to be equally prepared this time.
Modi said the country’s power plants have adequate coal reserves and that all power supply systems are being closely monitored as summer approaches and demand rises. He said India’s fertilizer stocks remain sufficient.
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"This war is not in the interest of humanity," Modi said. "India is encouraging all sides to end war peacefully."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-orders-war-dept-postpone-strikes-iranian-energy-sites-citing-productive-talks-end-war