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President Donald Trump has announced a 10-day delay in planned US strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, citing ongoing negotiations and potential progress toward ending the conflict.

Getting into it: In a statement on Truth Social, Donald Trump said, “As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 PM, Eastern Time.” He added, “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well.”

This marks the second delay Trump has announced in recent days. After initially threatening to strike Iran’s power grid within 48 hours if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened, he first pushed the timeline back by five days, citing “very good and productive conversations.” Now, the deadline has been extended again to April 6, with Trump maintaining that the pause is conditional on continued progress in talks and suggesting there is momentum toward a potential agreement.

Despite those assertions, Iranian officials have publicly denied that meaningful negotiations are taking place, contradicting Trump’s repeated claims. Iran has insisted it is not engaged in talks under US pressure, even as reports indicate possible indirect diplomatic channels. Some accounts suggest that Pakistan may be acting as a mediator, while other reports claim Iran has signaled it would only consider direct negotiations with Vice President JD Vance, rather than Trump himself.

All of this is unfolding as global energy markets remain highly volatile due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that moves about 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Adding to concerns, Iran is reportedly preparing to formalize a system to control passage through the strait, including potential tolls for vessels seeking safe transit. Under the emerging framework, ships may be required to submit detailed documentation, obtain clearance codes, and, in some cases, accept escorted passage through designated corridors, with payments or diplomatic arrangements influencing access.