United States President Donald Trump has decided to extend a deadline he had previously set for potential strikes on Iran’s electrical infrastructure, moving it to April 6. The decision, according to his statement, reflects what he described as meaningful progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict in the region.
The announcement, made on Thursday, comes as the president continues urging Iran to allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil transportation.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well.”
This statement represents the latest in a series of delays Trump has introduced since first raising the possibility of targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Just days earlier, on Sunday, Trump warned that Iran’s power grid could be attacked if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened within 48 hours. At that time, he stated that strikes would begin with energy facilities, “STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST”.
By Monday, however, he indicated a shift in approach, announcing a five-day postponement following what he described as “good and productive conversations” — claims that Iranian officials have publicly denied. The Thursday decision marks yet another extension of that timeline.
Throughout the conflict, the Trump administration has issued mixed and sometimes conflicting messages regarding the trajectory of the war, which began nearly a month earlier, on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran.
Still, any move to deliberately target Iran’s power infrastructure is expected to intensify criticism of the broader military campaign.
A possible war crime?
Legal analysts have already characterized the initial assault on Iran as an act lacking clear provocation. Additionally, attacks that damage or destroy civilian infrastructure may fall under the definition of war crimes according to the Geneva Conventions.
At the same time, experts point out that modern conflicts increasingly involve strikes on so-called “dual-use” facilities — installations that serve both civilian populations and military functions.
A similar rationale has been observed in other conflicts. In Ukraine, for example, Vladimir Putin defended attacks on energy infrastructure by arguing they would weaken the country’s defense capabilities. Nonetheless, the International Criminal Court later issued arrest warrants linked to those operations.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have strongly criticized Trump’s proposal to target Iranian power plants, describing it as “a threat to commit war crimes”.
Despite repeated statements from the White House suggesting that victory is within reach, there is little indication that the conflict is nearing a conclusion.
Meanwhile, Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz has created significant disruptions in global markets. The narrow passage, which runs along Iran’s southern coast, is responsible for transporting more than 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.
Due to escalating threats against oil tankers, maritime traffic through the strait has largely come to a standstill.
Trump has called on allied nations to assist in reopening the route, but responses from NATO members and other partners have so far been cautious and, in some cases, skeptical.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting earlier on Thursday, Trump maintained that Iran was “begging” to reach an agreement, even as attacks on US bases and allied forces across the region continue. He also dismissed reports suggesting that Iran had rejected a proposed 15-point ceasefire framework put forward by the United States.
“ They’ll tell you, ‘We’re not negotiating. We will not negotiate.’ Of course, they’re negotiating. They’ve been obliterated. Who wouldn’t negotiate?” Trump asked.
“If they make the right deal, then the strait will open up.”
According to several US media reports, the White House is also weighing the possibility of initiating ground operations in Iran — a move analysts warn could significantly escalate the situation further.
So far, the human cost of the conflict continues to rise. Approximately 1,937 people have been reported killed in Iran, while 13 US service members have lost their lives. Additional casualties have been recorded across multiple countries in the Middle East.
Iranian officials, however, continue to deny that any negotiations are underway and have warned that attacks across the region will intensify if the United States or Israel proceed with strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure.
