Donald Trump has announced that he has ordered the United States Department of Defense to suspend any military strikes targeting Iran’s energy facilities for a period of five days.
The announcement was made on Monday, March 23, 2026, through his Truth Social platform. Trump explained that the decision follows what he described as “positive discussions” between the United States and Iran aimed at reducing escalating tensions in the Middle East.
According to Trump, the temporary halt is intended to support ongoing diplomatic efforts and allow space for negotiations to progress.
This development comes just a day after Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. He had warned that failure to comply could result in the destruction of Iran’s energy infrastructure.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any such action would trigger retaliatory strikes targeting US energy-related installations across the Gulf region and other American interests.
The IRGC also threatened to deploy naval mines in surrounding waters, potentially blocking maritime traffic and escalating the already fragile security situation in the region.