‘GOOD CONVERSATIONS’: Trump orders Department of War to postpone military strikes on Iran power plants
President Donald Trump early Monday ordered the U.S. Department of War to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants for a five-day period due to what he called “good and productive conversations with the regime running the Islamic Republic.
In a post in all capital letters on Truth Social, Trump said: “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.
“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. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”
Shortly before midnight, the president posted another message, indicating: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!”
WATCH:
President Trump announces the U.S. has had “very good and productive” talks with Iran resulting in a temporary pause in strikes:
“I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five… pic.twitter.com/uRhgJ8sSIX
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) March 23, 2026
Trey Yingst of Fox News in Tel Aviv, Israel, reported Monday: “This does not mean the United States and Israel have stopped strikes against the Islamic regime. It means they are not targeting the country’s energy infrastructure, according to President Trump, for at least five days.”
The pause comes after Trump imposed a 48-hour deadline for Iran to fully open up the Strait of Hormuz, warning at 7:44 p.m. Eastern Saturday evening: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
Michael Waltz, U.S.ambassador to the United Nations, said Trump was serious about taking military action with that threat.
“The president is not messing around,” said Waltz on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel. “Unlike his predecessors, he stands by his red lines, and he’s not going to allow this genocidal regime to hold the world’s energy supplies or economies hostage.”
.@USAmbUN on Iran: “The president is not messing around. He stands, unlike his predecessors, by his red lines, and he’s not going to allow this genocidal regime to hold the world’s energy supplies or economies hostage.” pic.twitter.com/QfQ0A9w0kK
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 22, 2026
“As the president announced, he will start by attacking and destroying one of Iran’s largest power plants. There are gas-fire thermal power plants and other type of plants and I want to be clear here before there’s kind of hand-wringing out of the international community.”
“The IRGC, which we declared a terrorist organization along with many European countries, control much Iran’s economy, control its critical infrastructure, and continue to powers what’s left of its war effort through this control of its critical infrastructure.”
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