Live updates: Trump says he's postponing attacks on Iran power plants, citing 'productive' talks to end war
This version of Live Updates Iran War Trump Hormuz Deadline Energy Crisis Gulf Power Rcna264685 - World News | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
Iran said the reversal was designed to lower energy prices and "buy time" for Trump's military plans. Trump had threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants unless it ends a blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz that has sent global energy prices soaring.
What to know
- TRUMP POSTPONES ENERGY ATTACKS, CITING TALKS: President Donald Trump said this morning he was postponing any strikes against Iran's power plants for five days, citing what he said were "productive conversations" with Tehran to end the war. Markets surged and oil prices dropped on the news.
- TEHRAN DEFIANT: Iran responded by saying there had been no direct talks and Trump's move was designed to lower energy prices and "buy time" for his military plans. Tehran had threatened to strike electricity targets across the region if Trump followed through on his threat to "obliterate" the country's power network unless it opened the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route by tonight.
- GLOBAL ENERGY CRISIS: The global economy faces "major threat" and the current energy crisis is worse than the oil shocks of the 1970s, the International Energy Agency warned. The U.S. moved to ease sanctions on Iranian oil to cool surging prices, but that could be a boon for Tehran.
- 'ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE': Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC's "Meet the Press" that "all options are on the table" with regard to Kharg Island, including sending U.S. troops to secure the critical Iranian oil production hub. Tehran threatened to mine the “entire Persian Gulf” if invaded.
- STRIKES ON ISRAEL: More than 180 people were injured in two Iranian missile strikes on southern Israel over the weekend, startling a country that has had comparatively few casualties since it launched the war thanks to its air defenses.
- DEATH TOLL: More than 2,000 people have been killed across the Middle East as the war enters its fourth week. In Iran, Israeli and American strikes have killed more than 1,200 people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. At least 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, and 15 have died in Israel. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and two more died of noncombat causes.
- INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS: Get exclusive analysis and insight into the Middle East conflict by becoming an NBC News subscriber.
Trump says he thinks Israel 'will be very happy' with a U.S. negotiated deal with Iran
Trump addressed this morning whether he believes Israel would abide by a ceasefire agreement with Iran if the U.S. reaches a diplomatic deal.
"I think Israel will be very happy with what we have. We just spoke to Israel a little while ago. I think they'll be very happy. This will be peace for Israel," Trump told reporters on the tarmac in West Palm Beach.
Trump said that Iran "called" to discuss trying to resolve the war diplomatically.
"They called, I didn't call. They called," he said. "They want to make a deal, and we are very willing to make it. There'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."
Trump: 'We are very intent on making a deal with Iran'
Trump said the U.S. is "very intent on making a deal with Iran" after talks with regime officials, in an interview with CNBC this morning.
The president said the discussions with Iranian authorities had been very intense, but he was hopeful something substantive can be achieved, the cable channel reported.
Iranian state media, however, contradicted the president's account of conversations, saying that Washington and Tehran have not held direct or indirect talks.
“There is been no negotiation and there is no negotiation, and with this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war conditions nor will there be peace in the energy markets,” state media reported an unnamed senior security official as saying.
Iran war energy crisis is worse than 1970s oil shocks, IEA chief says
The global energy crisis stemming from the war in Iran is worse than the global oil shocks of the 1970s, according to the executive director of the International Energy Agency.
In each of the two oil crises of 1973 and 1979, the world lost about 5 million barrels of oil a day, causing major global economic downturns, Fatih Birol told the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra.
“Today — only as of today — we lost 11 million barrels per day, so more than two major oil shocks put together,” he said.
Birol said the other current energy crisis, involving natural gas, is worse than Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which cost the world 75 billion cubic meters of gas per day compared with the 140 billion cubic meters being lost daily now.
The current situation is like “two oil crises and one gas crisis put all together,” he said, adding that it goes beyond those two fuels to include “vital arteries of the global economy” such as petrochemicals, fertilizer, sulfur and helium.
“Their trade is all interrupted, which would have serious consequences for the global economy,” he said, with food prices likely to soon be affected if shipments of fertilizer are disrupted for too long.
Birol said at least 40 energy assets in nine countries had been “severely or very severely damaged,” and that it would take time for them to return to normal capacity.
“No country will be immune to the the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” he said.
Families shelter at a Beirut camp for Lebanon's internally displaced
Mo Abbas / NBC News
Families with children from Lebanon's capital, Beirut, and the south of the country are taking shelter from Israeli airstrikes in a school in the east of the city Saturday. Hassan Sirhan was with his son Ali, 18, who is bedbound and has severe mental and physical impairments.
“Ali doesn’t know about the war, but when he hears explosions he screams. He doesn’t know planes are attacking. He doesn’t know war,” Sirhan said.
Mo Abbas / NBC News
6-year-old Rahaf Abu Mjeir and her family were displaced from southern Lebanon, and are taking shelter in a school in eastern Beirut.
Mo Abbas / NBC News
Mo Abbas / NBC News
One of Pakistan's premier sporting events to be held in empty stadiums amid energy crisis
Pakistan’s premier cricket competition will be played in empty stadiums this year due to the oil crisis caused by the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The decision was made “to support efficient use of energy and public resources,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
In a separate statement, the board said that an average of 30,000 spectators would have created a “significant strain on energy resources” had they attended Pakistan Super League matches.
The tournament’s opening ceremony, which was scheduled to be held Thursday in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, was also canceled.
The tournament will also scale down from six host cities to just two.
Pakistan is not the first country to implement energy-saving measures in Asia, which is heavily dependent on the Middle East for energy imports and has been especially hit hard by the crisis.
Vietnam has urged people to work from home and limit vehicle usage, while the Philippines has initiated a four-day workweek for government employees. Sri Lanka has also introduced a four-day workweek, making every Wednesday a holiday for public sector employees.
Democratic senator says Trump is backing down on threat because of financial markets
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., argued that Trump backing down on his threat to strike Iranian power plants was to calm the financial markets.
"a. Trump isn’t announcing a pause on strikes," Murphy said in a post to X. "He’s saying he’s postponing a possible war crime — strikes on Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure. b. Also, this isn’t a message to Iran. It’s a panicky message to the markets: “No war escalation until markets close on Friday'."
The 48 hour deadline Trump gave Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would have expired tonight.
Trump reversal aimed at calming markets and buying time, Iranian Foreign Ministry says
Trump’s reversal is “part of efforts to reduce energy prices and buy time to implement his military plans,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said shortly after Trump announced a postponement of his plan to strike Iran’s power plants.
Iranian Red Crescent emergency workers clear rubble from a residential building in Tehran today. Vahid Salemi / AP
In a statement carried by semi-official news agency Mehr News, the ministry said "there is no dialogue between Tehran and Washington."
It added: "Yes, there are initiatives from regional countries to reduce tensions, and our response to all of them is clear: we are not the party that started this war, and all such requests should be directed to Washington."
Israel launches new strikes on central Tehran
The Israeli army said it's currently conducting strikes on Iranian regime targets in the heart of Tehran.
It comes shortly after Trump's announcement that he was delaying his plans to attack Iran's energy infrastructure.
Iranian state media say Trump 'backed down' after its warnings
Iranian state media responded to Trump’s post by saying the U.S. president has “backed down” after Iran’s firm response.
Tehran has not confirmed any talks with the U.S. and previously vowed not to negotiate.
"Trump, fearing Iran's response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum," read a graphic on IRIB state television.
“After the Islamic Republic warned that if America attacks Iran’s energy infrastructure it will target energy infrastructure across the entire region, Trump retreats and said he had ordered a delay of the attack,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The semi-official Mehr news agency used similar wording, saying “Iran’s warnings about a swift and powerful response to any potential strike on its energy facilities, led Trump to back down.”
Markets surge, oil plummets after Trump's post
Markets worldwide are surging on Trump’s Truth Social post regarding Iran moments ago.
S&P 500 futures, which were down more than 1% before the post, are now set to open higher by nearly 3%. Nasdaq 100 futures are also set to soar 3% at the open. Dow futures are set to surge 1,000 points when the opening bell rings at 9:30.
Meanwhile, oil prices are plunging.
Bulk carriers sit anchored in Muscat, Oman yesterday. Elke Scholiers / Getty Images
U.S. crude oil has fallen below $90, down 10% on the day. International Brent crude oil also sharply fell to around $100, also down about 10%.
In Europe, benchmark indexes in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain are now higher by more than 1.5%.
The remarkable moves came after markets in Asia closed sharply lower overnight. Japan's Nikkei stock index closed lower by nearly 4%.
Analysis: Trump's sudden reversal the latest dramatic twist in this war
Talk about breaking news.
It was already a big day but Trump's post shows how quickly things can develop.
All those things we have been talking about, the serious escalation this war seemed to be heading toward with Trump's ultimatum, may now be postponed if he is in fact pulling back from the brink.
Trump says he's postponing power plant strikes for 5 days, citing 'productive' talks with Tehran
In a dramatic turn of events, Trump has announced that the U.S. and Iran have in recent days had "very good and productive conversations" regarding a "complete and total resolution" of hostilities in the Middle East.
He said that the conversations would continue throughout the week, but that he had instructed the Defense Department to postpone "any and all" military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for at least a five-day period "subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions."
It comes just hours ahead of a deadline Trump gave for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk seeing its energy infrastructure destroyed.
Iran had vowed retaliation, saying any attack on its energy infrastructure would be met with a “decisive and devastating” response across the region.
Nonmilitary targets 'must not be attacked,' Chinese envoy says
Nonmilitary targets, including those related to energy, “must not be attacked,” China’s envoy to the Middle East said, as Trump threatens to strike power plants in Iran over the country’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“This is a war that should never have happened,” the envoy, Zhai Jun, told reporters in Beijing today. “While negotiations were still underway, the United States and Israel suddenly provoked conflict, causing diplomatic efforts to collapse. This has left all those who pursue peace deeply regretful and disappointed.”
Zhai said Arab countries, especially those in the Gulf, had “suffered undeserved calamities.”
“Under no circumstances should the red line of protecting civilians in military conflicts be crossed,” he said. “Nonmilitary targets related to energy, the economy, and people’s livelihoods must not be attacked.”
Zhai called for an immediate halt to all military action and a return to negotiations as soon as possible. He also urged the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, whose continued closure he said “would bring unbearable consequences.”
Israeli military says own artillery fire killed civilian on northern border
The Israeli military said an Israeli civilian was killed by the IDF’s artillery fire near the northern border with Lebanon yesterday as it expressed regret over what it called a “very severe incident.”
An inquiry into what happened found that Ofer "Poshko" Moskovitz was killed as a result of a fire toward the border community of Misgav Am, conducted to support IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, the military said in a statement on Telegram.
Israeli forces fire artillery toward southern Lebanon from a position in the upper Galilee region Friday. Jallaa Marey / AFP - Getty Images
The commander of the northern command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, concluded that “several severe issues and operational errors” took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire, it added.
“The artillery fire was carried out at an incorrect angle and did not follow required protocols. As a result, five artillery shells were fired at the Misgav Am ridge instead of toward the enemy target,” the statement said.
At least 15 people have died in Israel since it launched strikes on Iran.
‘If you hit electricity, we will hit electricity,' IRGC says
Iran will retaliate if Trump decides to attack its power network by attacking Israeli power plants, as well as power plants in Gulf countries that provide energy to American bases, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said.
The IRGC said it was “inhumane” to attack electricity because of the disruptions it causes to humanitarian services such as hospitals, emergency centers, water systems and desalination plants.
“You hit our hospitals, we did not do the same. You hit our relief centers, we did not do the same. You hit our schools, we did not do the same,” it said in a statement. “But if you hit electricity, we will hit electricity.”
“We are determined to respond to any threat at the same level in a way that creates deterrence and we will do this,” the IRGC added.
Trump and British PM agree reopening Strait of Hormuz is essential
Trump discussed the widening Middle East conflict on a call yesterday with Keir Starmer, the British prime minister’s office said.
“The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to resume global shipping,” it said in a statement. “They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market.”
The statement added that the two leaders had agreed to speak again soon.
Asian markets tumble as Trump threatens Iranian power plants
Asian markets have taken a big hit across the board as a region highly dependent on Gulf oil gets squeezed by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The benchmark Kospi index in South Korea, where markets have had some of the biggest drops since the war broke out, ended the day down about 6.5%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed down almost 3.5%.
Shanghai’s Composite Index was down 3.63%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost more than 3.5%. India’s BSE Sensex was also trading more than 3.5% lower.
European markets were also sharply lower as the new trading week began, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 down more than 2%. U.S. stock futures were down as much as 0.97%.
Iran threatens to mine 'entire Persian Gulf' if it is invaded
Iran’s Defense Council warned that Tehran would mine all access routes in the Persian Gulf if Iranian shores or islands were attacked.
“In that case, effectively the entire Persian Gulf would, for long periods, take on a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz and this time, alongside the Strait of Hormuz the whole Persian Gulf would be blocked and the responsibility for this would lie with the threatening party,” the council said in a statement carried by the semi-official Fars news agency.
A demonstration in support of the Iranian government in Tehran yesterday. Majid Saeedi / Getty Images
The only way for non-hostile countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, it added, is by coordinating with Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked by Iran since the breakout of the war in late February, impacting the global flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf, unsettling global energy markets and presenting a tough challenge for Trump.
Japanese national returns home after monthslong detention in Iran
Japan’s top government spokesperson said today that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned home in good health.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara’s confirmation came one day after Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced the person’s release. Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show yesterday, said the person had been detained since last year and was released Wednesday. He said the person took a flight from neighboring Azerbaijan.
Kihara, at a regular news conference today, confirmed that the former detainee returned to Japan yesterday in good health.
Kihara said another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody but “we have confirmed that there is no problem with the safety and health” of the person and that Japan is continuing to press Iran for a release as soon as possible.
Bessent defends U.S. military actions in Iran: ‘Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate’
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended strikes on Iran’s infrastructure since the U.S. and Israel began their joint war against the country in February, saying “sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate.”
His comments came just hours after Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was giving Iranian leadership 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S. military strikes that “will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Bessent defended Trump’s rhetoric, saying it’s “the only language the Iranians understand.”
In an interview yesterday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Bessent also addressed comments he made last week about Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iran’s oil production that he said could become a “U.S. asset.”
He did not explain what that would look like but said “all options are on the table,” including sending U.S. troops to secure the island.
Iranian missile strikes injure 115 in Israel, officials say, puncturing air defenses and shocking the public
After three weeks of relatively low Israeli casualties from the raging U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, the explosive impact from an Iranian ballistic missile delivered a grim wake-up call in Arad, a desert town in southern Israel.
People look at residential buildings damaged by an Iranian missile strike in Arad, Israel, yesterday. Ohad Zwigenberg / AP
“It was a very shocking boom, something that we haven’t heard before,” said David, 39, who gave only his first name. “It was a big miracle here, and thank God there was no killing of people.”
The strike on Saturday sheared the façade off several adjacent apartment blocks and shattered glass for blocks around. No one was killed, but Israel’s emergency services said more than 115 people were injured across the attack and another strike in the nearby town of Dimona.
The missiles startled an Israeli public that has endured comparatively few casualties in recent weeks thanks to the country’s formidable air defenses, frequently tested across many years by rockets from militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
Iran unswayed by Trump’s 48-hour deadline and threats to ‘obliterate’ energy infrastructure
Tehran has threatened to escalate strikes on energy infrastructure and target critical water desalination facilities should Trump make good on a promise to “obliterate” the country’s power plants if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump on Saturday evening gave Tehran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the critical trade route, through which around 20% of the world’s oil passes, threatening in a post on Truth Social to target Iran’s energy infrastructure if the demand is not met.
Iran has effectively blocked the strait since the U.S. and Israel launched their attacks on the country on Feb. 28, sparking swift retaliation from the Islamic Republic and triggering a wider war in the region.
