US President Donald Trump says he has ordered a five-day delay on planned military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure after what he described as “good and productive conversations” with Tehran. The announcement was made on Monday as tensions in the Middle East remained high.

Trump said the delay would depend on the success of ongoing meetings and discussions. His statement signals a possible opening for diplomacy after days of threats and growing concern over a wider regional conflict.

Threats Over Hormuz Raised the Stakes

The postponement comes just days after Trump warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face attacks on its power plants. Tehran had said it would fully shut the key waterway in retaliation and also threatened energy facilities in Israel and Gulf states.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes. About one-fifth of global oil supplies move through it. Any disruption there hits far beyond the region, with knock-on effects for fuel prices, electricity costs and household budgets around the world.

Oil Fears Grow as Iran Responds

The report says the effective blockade of the strait has already pushed up global oil prices and led to cooking gas shortages in parts of Asia. The International Energy Agency’s Fatih Birol warned on Monday that the Middle East crisis is now more severe than the two energy shocks of the 1970s combined.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by warning that if Washington carried out its threat, Tehran would target power plants and key economic and energy infrastructure linked to American interests. Iran’s Defence Council also warned that any attack on its southern coast or islands could trigger the laying of sea mines that would cut Gulf shipping routes.

Diplomatic Window Remains Open

Diplomatic efforts now appear to be intensifying behind the scenes. According to the report, multiple countries have been speaking with embassies and the White House, even during the Eid holiday, in a bid to stop the conflict from spiralling further.

For now, the five-day pause offers a brief window for talks. But the threat of fresh escalation remains very real if negotiations fail.