Trump Postpones Attack on Iran’s Electricity Infrastructure
March 23rd, 2026Update: Trump Says He and the Ayatollah, “Whoever the Ayatollah Is” Might Control the Strait of Hormuz
[???]
President Trump says the Strait of Hormuz could come under joint control with Iran following regime change:
TRUMP: It would be jointly controlled.
REPORTER: By whom?
TRUMP: Maybe me. Me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is! There’ll also be a form of a very serious form… pic.twitter.com/10PyTGZkVq
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 23, 2026
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Update: Iranian Media Say No Talks Have Taken Place
Via: Daily Mail:
Iranian state television has boasted Donald Trump has ‘backed down’ in the Iran war after the US President declared a five-day halt in military strikes against energy infrastructure in the country.
Trump announced a pause on attacking Tehran’s energy assets this morning after holding what he described as ‘very good conversations’ about ending hostilities in the Middle East.
But Iranian media say no talks have taken place and Trump has retreated after he issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the partially closed Strait of Hormuz or face power plants being bombed
‘Trump, fearing Iran’s response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum,’ read a graphic on IRIB state television.
The financial markets immediately reacted to Trump’s post with the price of oil and gas dropping as stocks rebounded across Europe.
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My guess is that Trump was hoping to get the Iranians to blink by threatening attacks on their electricity infrastructure. That didn’t happen and Iran instead threatened increased attacks on energy, information technology and water desalination facilities in the region.
It’s hard to know what to make of Trump’s statements, since he routinely whipsaws from one position to another. Maybe the intensity of the conflict will remain stable for a few days, or maybe not.
Two U.S. Marine Amphibious Ready Groups remain en route. The USS Tripoli group will be in the region within the next couple of days. The USS Boxer group is still three weeks away.
Via: AP:
President Donald Trump on Monday extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, saying the U.S. would hold off on strikes against Iranian power plants for five days.
Shortly after Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social site, Iranian state television put up a graphic that read: “U.S. president backs down following Iran’s firm warning.” The reprieve came hours ahead of Trump’s self-imposed deadline later in the day.
