US to continue air strikes vs. Iran but not on its energy sites — report

The U.S. pauses strikes on Iran’s energy sites for five days amid “productive” talks, but military and defense targets remain under attack, according to reports. Iran denies any negotiations with the U.S. during this period.

Ruchika Khanna/Reuters

March 24, 2026

US to continue air strikes vs. Iran but not on its energy sites — report

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing West Palm Beach aboard Air Force One, Florida, U.S., March 23, 2026.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The United States will continue its strikes on Iran, with the pause applying only to attacks on Tehran's energy sites, Semafor reported on Monday, citing a U.S. official, during what President Donald Trump has described as "productive" talks with unidentified Iranian officials.

Earlier on Monday, Trump had postponed for five days a plan to hit Iran's energy grid. Iran later denied that it had engaged in negotiations with the United States.

"The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites," a U.S. official told Semafor.

"It is not on the military sites and the navy, and the ballistic missiles, and the defense industrial base. The initial initiatives of (Operation) Epic Fury will continue," he told the news agency.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House, the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon and the did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular hours.

The Semafor report also added that Israel was not party to Washington's talks with Tehran.

-Ruchika Khanna/Reuters