Trump orders stay on energy strikes citing ‘conversations’ as Tehran denies any talks took place
US President Donald Trump has said he has ordered the Department of War to postpone strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, following what he claimed were “productive conversations” between Washington and Tehran.
While Iranian media has denied outright that any talks with the American side took place at all, footage has emerged of significant blackouts affecting the Iranian capital on Sunday night.
Trump had upped the ante over the weekend, threatening strikes on Iranian energy facilities if Tehran did not lift its threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, to which Iran responded by publishing a list of power stations and energy facilities across the Gulf that it would target.
Iran has kept the vital shipping route closed to most vessels since February 28, when the US and Israel launched the first wave of strikes against the country.
International markets have responded predictably to the first sign of de-escalation in the four-week war.
Meanwhile Israel is expanding ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where the IDF has destroyed several bridges across the strategic Litani River.
At least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, the country’s Health Ministry has said.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes killed 15 people in Israel and seven US service members at bases in the region. A further six US service members were killed in a crash involving a refueling aircraft.
Here are the latest developments:
- Trump has announced that he has called off strikes targeting Iranian energy facilities, following alleged "productive conversations" with Tehran.
- Tehran has denied that any conversations have taken place with the US.
- Trump’s announcement coincided with significant losses on European markets and triggered an ongoing bounce, as well as a 10% drop in the price of crude oil.
- Iran has kept the crucial waterway largely closed to vessels linked to the US and Israel since the outbreak of the war. The disruption – affecting a route carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies – has already pushed crude prices higher and heightened concerns over a prolonged global supply shock.
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.
23 March 2026
18:05 GMTThe International Committee of the Red Cross has urged an immediate halt to the “war on essential infrastructure” in the Middle East, warning that recent events risk reaching a “point of no return.” ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said the “potential harm to nuclear facilities” was “most alarming” and could lead to “irreversible consequences.” Iran’s Health Ministry says at least 1,500 people have been killed and 18,551 injured by US‑Israeli attacks on the country since February 28, with victims ranging in age from eight months to 88 years old.
- 17:28 GMT
Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has denied that any negotiations have taken place with the US, after Israeli media claimed he was the official Trump’s envoys had been talking to in recent days. “No negotiations with America have taken place. Fake news is intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped,” he said in a post on X.
1/ Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors.All Irainan officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 23, 2026 - 17:20 GMT
Trump told a roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee that there is a “very good chance” the US will reach a deal with Iran during what he says is a five‑day hold on energy strikes, claiming talks have been “very, very good” and that Tehran now “means business” because of US military pressure.
"Iran has one more opportunity to end its threats to America and our allies, and we hope they take it. Either way, America and the entire world will soon be much safer planet." - President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/9ehXxWhEPA
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 23, 2026 - 17:06 GMT
The US has reportedly set April 9 as a target date for ending the war with Iran, leaving about 21 days left for war and negotiations, an Israeli official has reportedly told Ynet. According to the daily, Washington expects talks with Tehran to take place later this week in Pakistan and has not updated Israel on alleged contacts with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf. Ending the conflict by that date could clear the way for Trump to visit Israel on Independence Day to receive the Israel Prize, regarded as the country’s highest cultural honor, the official suggested.
- 16:22 GMT
The US has “achieved none of its overt or covert objectives against Iran” and is in “downfall” even among its own allies, Shakib Mehr also said. According to the envoy, Washington’s partners see a wider war with Iran as “unnecessary, unwise and irrational,” adding that they are “too vigilant to fall into the trap.”
'US has achieved NONE none of its overt or covert objectives against Iran' — Iran’s envoy to S. Africa Mansour Shakib MehrUS in 'downfall' among own allies who know Iran war is 'unnecessary, unwise, and irrational''They're too vigilant to fall into the trap' https://t.co/1V3l2tClpJpic.twitter.com/6lE1NxfDAI
— RT (@RT_com) March 23, 2026 - 16:21 GMT
Iran’s ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, has told RT that Tehran is “neither intimidated by Trump’s threats nor happy” about Washington’s decision to postpone strikes on Iranian energy plants and claims of ongoing talks. He said the current “cycle of ceasefire, negotiation, threat and aggression must end.”
'We're neither intimidated by Trump's threats nor happy about this message'— Iran’s envoy to S. Africa Mansour Shakib Mehr to RT on US postponing its threat to attack Iran's energy plants and supposed 'talks''Cycle of ceasefire, negotiation, threat and aggression must end' pic.twitter.com/O6nl6AOroX
— RT (@RT_com) March 23, 2026 - 16:16 GMT
US President Donald Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, negotiated with Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Israeli officials have told Israeli media.
Ghalibaf was close to slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and has emerged as a leading wartime decision-maker after leading Iranian officials were taken out in the Israeli-US campaign against Iran, according to media reports.
🚨An Israeli official told ne the mediating countries were trying to convene a meeting in Islamabad — with Ghalibaf and other officials representing Tehran, and Witkoff, Kushner and possibly Vice President Vance representing the U.S. - possibly later this week https://t.co/hPxezRUbKy
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) March 23, 2026Earlier today, Trump claimed that the US was in talks with a respected leader in Iran, while declining to reveal his identity.
“The mediating countries” were trying to convene a meeting in Islamabad between Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, other Iranian officials, Witkoff, Kushner and possibly US Vice President J.D. Vance, Axios correspondent Barak Ravid has also claimed.
