US President Donald Trump has extended a voluntary deadline for attacks on Iran’s power grid to April 6, citing progress in negotiations to end the ongoing war in the country.
Thursday’s announcement comes as the president continues to press Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil shipments.
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“As requested by the Government of Iran, please allow this statement to state that we are suspending the destruction of energy plants for 10 days, ending Monday, April 6, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time,” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“Talks are ongoing and despite false statements to the contrary by fake news media and others, they are progressing very well.”
The post marked the latest delay announced by President Trump since he first threatened Iran’s energy system.
On Sunday, President Trump threatened to attack Iran’s power grid if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened within 48 hours. He wrote that he would attack energy plants, “starting with the biggest ones first.”
And on Monday, it said it was postponing the strike for another five days based on “useful and productive conversations,” which Iran denies. Thursday’s delay is the second time.
The Trump administration has issued often contradictory statements about the direction of the war, which began about a month ago when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
However, intentionally targeting Iran’s electricity supplies could increase criticism of the military operation as a whole.
Could it be a war crime?
Legal experts have already described the first attack on Iran as an act of unprovoked aggression.
On the other hand, under the Geneva Conventions, destroying or damaging civilian infrastructure can be considered a war crime.
But analysts note that in modern warfare, there is a tendency to attack “dual-use” structures that benefit both military personnel and civilians.
In Ukraine, for example, Russian President Vladimir Putin justified attacks on energy infrastructure by saying they would roll back the country’s military-industrial complex. Still, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian attack.
Amnesty International is among the rights groups condemning President Trump’s plan to bomb Iranian power plants as a “war crime threat.”
Despite the White House’s confident claims that victory in Iran is near, the war shows little sign of ending.
Meanwhile, Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has shocked the world economy. More than a fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass through a narrow waterway along Iran’s coastline.
Traffic through the strait has come to a near standstill in the face of threats to oil tankers.
President Trump has called on allies to help reopen the strait, but so far he has faced skepticism from NATO countries and other partners.
At a Cabinet meeting early Thursday, President Trump reiterated his position that Iran is “begging” for a deal to end the war, despite continued attacks on U.S. military bases and allies across the region. He also slammed media reports that Iran has rejected the United States’ 15-point plan for a ceasefire agreement.
“They’ll say, ‘We’re not negotiating. We’re not negotiating.'” Of course we’re negotiating. they were wiped out. Who wouldn’t negotiate? ” Trump asked.
“If they make the right deal, the Straits will open.”
US media reports suggest the White House is considering ground operations against Iran, which analysts warn could lead to further escalation.
An estimated 1,937 people have already been killed in Iran, including 13 U.S. military personnel. Dozens more deaths have been reported across the Middle East.
But Iran denies any talks have taken place and has threatened to step up attacks across the region if the US or Israel targets its energy networks.
