Trump extends deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Chairman Donald ruff on mon extended his deadline for persia to reopen the important Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, saying he 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.

Writing in all capital letters, Trump said the U.S. And Iran have had "very good and productive conversations" that could yield "a complete and total resolution" in the war. Talks would continue "throughout the week," he said.

Trump added that the suspension of his threat to attack power plants was "subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions."

Trump did not elaborate on the negotiations that had taken place. Iran did not immediately acknowledge any talks between the countries, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did say he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Trump threatens to attack Iran's energy plants if Strait of Hormuz stays closed

Trump's announcement came as the United Arab Emirates reported its air defences were attempting to intercept new incoming Iranian fire on Monday afternoon.

Earlier on Monday, Iran warned it would strike electricity plants across the Middle East and mine the Persian Gulf after Trump threatened to bomb power stations in the Islamic Republic if it did not reopen the strait.

The war, now in its fourth week, has already seen several dramatic turning points — the killing of Iran's supreme leader, the bombing of a key Iranian gas field and strikes targeting oil and gas facilities and other civilian infrastructure in Gulf Arab nations.

The conflict has killed more than 2,000 people, shaken the global economy, sent oil prices surging and endangered some of the world's busiest air corridors.

Trump's ultimatum and Iran's promise of retaliation threatened to raise the stakes yet again, with potentially catastrophic repercussions for civilians across the region.

If carried out, the U.S. Attacks could cut electricity to wide swaths of people in Iran and around the Gulf and knock out desalination plants that provide many desert nations with drinking water. There are also increasing concerns about the consequences any of strikes on nuclear facilities.

The fever pitch of the rhetoric shows how the war has spiralled to a point unimaginable at the start of the conflict on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran.

Before Trump's announcement to hold off on strikes, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard promised retaliation if Trump made good on his threat, saying Iran would hit power plants in all areas that supply electricity to American bases, "as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares."

Oil prices remained high in early trading, with the price of Brent crude, the international standard, at around $112 US a barrel, up nearly 55 per cent since Israel and the U.S. Started the war on Feb. 28 by attacking Iran.

The war has also caused wild fluctuations in global stock markets, as traders grow increasingly concerned about a world energy crisis and other issues.

In addition to targeting Israel and American bases, Iran has been hitting the energy infrastructure of its Gulf Arab neighbours.

It also has a tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which leads from the Persian Gulf toward the open ocean and through which a fifth of the world's oil is shipped, along with other important commodities.

How is Canada's economy managing the growing energy crisis?

A trickle of ships has been getting through the strait and Iran insists it remains open — just not to the U.S., Israel or their allies.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi blamed the U.S. For the problem facing everyone, saying that the attack on Iran made insurance companies shut down shipping through the strait for fear of having to pay large claims if tankers were damaged or destroyed.

Iran has said it will completely close the critical waterway if Trump follows through with the threat to attack Iranian power plants.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf also said Iran would then consider vital infrastructure across the region — including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations — legitimate targets.

Iran's death toll in the war has surpassed 1,500, its health ministry has said. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have also been killed in strikes.

In Lebanon, authorities say Israeli strikes targeting Iran-linked militia Hezbollah have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than a million. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.

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