Trump said the U.S. will postpone any strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, even as Israel continued hitting Tehran and Iran warned it could retaliate across the Gulf.
Commercial vessels in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026 in northern Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.President Trump says the United States is negotiating with Iran to end the war now in its fourth week.
Iran denied having talks. Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump U.S. objectives include Iran halting the enrichment of uranium for its nuclear program and the U.S. removing the enriched uranium Iran already has."If this happens, it's a great start for Iran to build itself back, and it's everything that we want," Trump told reporters on Monday. He said it would be a great deal for Israel as well as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. "There is no dialogue between Tehran and Washington," Iran's Foreign Ministry said, according to the country's state broadcaster. It said Trump's earliertouting"productive conversations" with Tehran were meant to calm energy markets and gain time to carry out his military plans. MajorPeople wave flags as they demonstrate in support of the Iranian government on March 22, 2026 in central Tehran, Iran. Iranian officials warned Monday that if the U.S. attacks Iran's power plants, Iran would retaliate against energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf region – including in countries that host U.S. military bases. In a separate statement, Iran's Defense Council said"non-belligerent" countries could only transit through the Strait of Hormuz through coordination with Iran, and warned that any attack on Iran's coasts or islands would trigger mine-laying across Gulf sea lanes that could effectively block maritime traffic beyond the narrow strait. Israeli helicopter gunships fly along the Lebanon-Israel border in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on March 22, 2026. U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is"physically open," but argued ships are staying away because Iran was firing missiles and drones at vessels. Cooper made the commentsCooper said the U.S. campaign in Iran is"ahead or on plan," saying that Iran's military capabilities are deteriorating."They're operating in a sign of desperation…in the last couple of weeks they've attacked civilian targets very deliberately, more than 300 times," Cooper said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by Dimona Mayor, Benny Biton , speak to media while visiting the area destroyed by an Iranian ballistic missile last night, leaving over 50 wounded residents on March 22, 2026 in Dimona, Israel. Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, warned Monday that the global economy faces a"major, major threat" from the war's disruption to oil and gas flows. "No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction," Birol said speaking at Australia's National Press Club in Canberra Monday."At least 40 energy facilities across nine countries have also been severely damaged in the conflict." Birol said the current situation was worse than the combined oil crises of 1973 and 1979, which together lost 10 million barrels per day. "And 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 IEA was consulting with governments in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East about releasing more stockpiles of oil, in addition to the"historic" 400 million barrels of oil released earlier this month.This lab that's determined to discover new drugs isn't where you might expectTrump threatens to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants as Iran strikes 2 Israeli cities KPBS keeps you informed with local stories you need to know about — with no paywall. Our news is free for everyone because people like you help fund it.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Live updates: Israel says Iran war at halfway point; Trump says it may be 'winding down'Israel says the intensity of attacks against Iran will ramp up, contradicting President Trump, who said his administration is considering “winding down' the military operation.
Read more »
Iranian missile slams building in southern IsraelBasic
Read more »
2 Iranian strikes on towns near Israel's main nuclear research center injure dozensIran struck two communities near Israel's main nuclear research center late Saturday, leaving at least 90 people wounded in the southern part of the country.
Read more »
Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants as Iran strikes 2 Israeli citiesIran launched missiles at two southern Israeli cities that lie close to the country's main nuclear research center, while President Trump gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Read more »
Multiple Iranian strikes across IsraelBasic
Read more »
Joe Kent says Trump is trying to get peace with Iran, Israel is against itJoe Kent, the former National Counterterrorism Center director, saidMonday that Trump is trying to get peace with Iran, but Israel will be against it.
Read more »