Trump Delays Iran Strike, Tehran Denies Talks
WANA (Mar 23) – On the 24th day of a war that began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Donald Trump—who on Sunday issued a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to “destroy” Iran’s power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened—has stepped back from that position, announcing a delay in potential strikes, while Iranian sources rejected his claim that talks had taken place.
Speaking on Sunday, Trump said: “If Iran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, we will target and destroy their electricity production facilities.” He added that U.S. strikes would focus on “major energy infrastructure.”
The threat prompted an immediate and forceful response from Iranian officials. In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said targeting power plants would be “inhumane,” warning that such attacks would disrupt vital services including hospitals, water systems and emergency networks.
“It is natural that if our power plants are attacked, Iran will respond in kind,” the statement said, adding: “You struck our hospitals… but if you strike electricity, we will strike electricity.”
Senior political figures echoed that stance. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned: “Immediately after any attack on our infrastructure, vital energy and oil infrastructure across the region will be destroyed irreversibly.”
People walk past a huge billboard displaying images of Iranian missiles, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 16, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said: “Attacking Iran’s infrastructure is tantamount to directly targeting civilians… and could lead to widespread blackouts across the region.”
Meanwhile, senior adviser Ali Akbar Velayati urged regional leaders to intervene, saying: “Arab rulers should make Trump understand that the Persian Gulf is not a place for gambling.”
Iran’s mission to the United Nations in Vienna also condemned the threats, calling them a “clear and serious violation of fundamental principles of international law” and warning of broad humanitarian and environmental consequences.
On the ground, public reaction reflected a mix of concern and defiance. A field report by WANA News Agency from Tehran captured citizens voicing readiness for retaliation.
“Maybe they strike, but this is nonsense—they know we will respond,” said Matin Hoshyar, a Tehran resident. “If they hit power plants, electricity could be out for six to seven months, but the IRGC will respond at least ten times harder.”
Another resident, Mohammadreza Amozegar, said: “If they target power plants, it will create a very serious national crisis… When they threaten, we should respond before they act.”
He added: “We can do the same to them… Never threaten an Iranian.”
Energy experts, however, have cast doubt on the feasibility of Trump’s threat. Analysts say Iran’s power grid—large, geographically dispersed and structurally decentralised—is not a single-point target, and disabling it would require a complex, large-scale, and coordinated operation.
Symbolic mock-ups of Iranian missiles are displayed on a street, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 22, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Trump on Monday abruptly shifted course, announcing that any attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure would be postponed for five days. He also claimed that “positive and constructive talks” had taken place with Iran over the past two days.
That claim was swiftly rejected by an informed Iranian source, who said no direct or indirect contact had occurred and that the decision to delay action came after assessing the likely scale of Iran’s response.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also rejected the claim, stating that “no talks are taking place between Tehran and Washington.” It added that Trump’s remarks were “part of efforts to manage energy prices and buy time for the implementation of his military plans.”
The ministry further said that while regional countries have put forward initiatives to reduce tensions, “our position is clear: we did not start this war, and all such requests should be directed to Washington.”
Reactions in the West have also been critical. Several U.S. analysts and political figures described Trump’s statements as inconsistent and risky, warning of broader implications for global security.
The gap between a 48-hour ultimatum on Sunday and a five-day delay on Monday has itself become a defining feature of the current phase of the conflict—where threats, deterrence and political signalling are shaping the trajectory of the war, even as no clear sign of de-escalation emerges on the ground.
Trump Backs Down from Threat to Strike Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
WANA (Mar 23) – Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stepped back from his earlier stance following rising tensions over a potential attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, announcing a delay in the move. The shift came after a clear warning from the Islamic Republic of Iran that any U.S. military action would be […]
