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Trump says strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure paused for 5 days amid US-Iran talks

by Lars Banilue Mar 24, 2026

President Donald Trump said Monday the United States would pause “any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure” for five days as Tehran and Washington engage in diplomatic negotiations.

In a social media post, Trump wrote in all caps that the U.S. and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” in the past two days and that the pause on planned strikes against energy infrastructure came as a direct result of the “in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations.” Trump added that the talks “will continue throughout the week.”

Trump later said that Iran had reached out to the U.S. to make a deal and that the countries were discussing the U.S.’s requests for Iran not to have nuclear weapons and not to have enriched uranium — though the president also said he couldn’t “guarantee” a deal would materialize.

“They want to make a deal. And we are very willing to make a deal. It’s got to be a good deal. And it’s got to be no more wars, no more nuclear weapons. They’re not going to have nuclear weapons anymore. They’re agreeing to that,” Trump said, speaking to reporters before he left Florida on Monday.

“If I were a betting man I would bet for a deal, but I am not guaranteeing anything,” he said.

Trump said his son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff were leading the talks.

The move indicates that a diplomatic off-ramp to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran could be in reach. It also followed increasing unease from the U.S.’s allies in the Middle East and Europe over the conflict continuing to spiral.

The Trump administration has been exchanging messages indirectly with Iran through the governments of Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, said Ali Vaez, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, who said he has been in touch with people on all sides.

The White House did not directly address whether the three countries were acting as intermediaries. “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to POLITICO.

The embassies of Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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