Trump delays Iran energy strikes amid conflicting signals on talks

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington had held "very strong" talks with Iran and reached "major points of agreement," prompting a five-day delay in planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. The decision followed his earlier 48-hour ultimatum demanding Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its energy facilities.

Trump said the contacts took place on Sunday through US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, involving the Iranian leadership but not the supreme leader. He added that a phone conversation could follow, describing a potential agreement as a "great start" for Iran and the region.

Tehran swiftly rejected the claim. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran had not engaged in talks with the United States during the past 24 days of conflict and that its position on the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged. He said Iran responded to US outreach through third countries and warned US that attacks on its critical infrastructure would meet a "decisive, immediate and effective" response.

Iranian officials described Trump's announcement as a sign of retreat, arguing that further attacks on energy infrastructure could trigger wider retaliation across Gulf states. An Iranian military source said "all of Trump's military options have failed," accusing Washington of shifting from battlefield action to rhetoric. The source added that Iran has prepared "surprise actions" in the coming days.

In response to Iran's denial, Trump argued US strikes had heavily damaged Iranian infrastructure, limiting Tehran's information.

Drawing on assessments from a former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Iranian media, CMG correspondent in Tehran Li Jiannan said that Trump may be pursuing a "deception strategy" aimed at influencing energy markets, buying time for additional US deployments, gathering intelligence on senior Iranian officials, and deepening internal divisions within Iran.

US officials said thousands of Marines are expected to arrive in the Middle East on March 27, the same day as Trump's deadline on the Strait of Hormuz, with additional forces to follow in the coming weeks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks appeared to reinforce the possibility of diplomatic maneuvering. In a video statement after speaking with Trump, Netanyahu said the United States sees an opportunity to "leverage the tremendous achievements" of military operations to "realize the objectives of the war through an agreement," adding that any deal would serve both US and Israeli interests.

A senior Israeli official said Iran and the United States could hold talks later this week in Islamabad, with US Vice President JD Vance potentially leading the American delegation. The White House declined to confirm the potential negotiations, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying diplomatic efforts are sensitive and the situation remains fluid.

Despite the talk of negotiations, hostilities continued. The Israeli military said it had launched a new round of airstrikes on targets in Tehran. Netanyahu stressed that operations against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon are ongoing, including strikes targeting Iran's missile and nuclear programs. He added that two Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in Israeli attacks in recent days.

Sun Taiyi, a professor at Christopher Newport University in the United States, told CGTN that although both US and Israel want to weaken Iran, their long-term objectives are not identical. Israel, he said, seeks a far-reaching neutralization of Iran's strategic capabilities, including eliminating any potential threat it may pose in the Middle East and significantly reducing Tehran's regional political and ideological influence. The United States, however, is often satisfied with a more limited outcome.

"Washington does not necessarily need to completely eliminate Iran's regional influence or bring about regime change," Sun said. "The US could accept almost any leadership in Tehran, even from within the existing system, as long as it is willing to cooperate with Washington or reduce confrontation."

Despite Trump's signal of talks, Iran said it is prepared for escalation. A senior Iranian security source said Tehran remains ready to respond forcefully to any attacks on critical infrastructure, warning that even limited or symbolic strikes would trigger a response "several times greater." The source added that Iran retains the capacity to sustain key systems, including electricity supply.

On Monday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had carried out strikes on multiple US bases and Israeli targets across the Middle East. Targets included Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, and Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.

The confrontation has unsettled global markets. Energy prices fluctuated sharply on Monday amid conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned the current crisis could surpass the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979, stressing that any durable solution hinges on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Qin Tian, deputy director of the Middle East Studies Institute at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said further escalation could turn the standoff into a prolonged conflict, imposing heavy costs on both sides. Gulf countries could face increased damage to energy and economic infrastructure, weakening regional growth. Higher oil prices could also drive up global commodity costs, add to inflationary pressures, and complicate an already fragile global economic recovery.