Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks
Israel Launches New Strikes on Tehran Amid US Pause in Energy Attacks
Trump Signals Temporary Cease in US Targeting of Iranian Power Plants
The Israeli military confirmed recent attacks on Tehran, following remarks by Donald Trump indicating a temporary halt in American strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure. Trump described conversations with Tehran as “productive,” extending a five-day reprieve for Iranian power plants. However, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated its commitment to continuing operations, stating it would adhere to government directives until further notice.
“Washington and Tehran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations,” Trump wrote on social media. He added that the Department of War had been instructed to delay military strikes on Iranian energy facilities for five days, pending the outcome of ongoing talks.
About 40 minutes after Trump’s announcement, the IDF posted on X, declaring it had “initiated another wave of strikes targeting the Iranian regime’s infrastructure across Tehran.” While the military stated energy infrastructure would be left untouched, it emphasized that attacks on Iran’s power plants and related sites would continue as per Israeli political guidance.
An IDF official told the Times of Israel that the U.S. president’s decision was a “political echelon matter,” with the military operating independently under Israeli leadership. Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent in Tehran noted that the scale of recent explosions was “unprecedented,” underscoring the intensity of the strikes.
Fars reported that at least six individuals were killed in residential areas of Tabriz, while the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documented 206 attacks across 15 Iranian provinces in the past 24 hours. With a child’s death on Monday, 15% of the total casualties in the country are now estimated to be under 18. Total fatalities, including both military and civilian, have surpassed 1,500 since U.S.-Israeli strikes began, with some rights groups citing as high as 3,230 deaths by 21 March.
Strategic Impact and Regional Escalation
The IDF claimed to have destroyed or disabled approximately 330 of Iran’s 470 estimated ballistic missile launchers, with over half neutralized in aerial assaults and others targeted through underground facilities. The military noted a decline in missile fire on Israel, now averaging around 10 per day compared to roughly 90 at the conflict’s outset.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon persists. It reported a recent strike in Beirut aimed at a group associated with Iran’s Quds Force, resulting in one fatality. The state news agency also mentioned Israeli forces had established a presence in Aita al-Chaab, deploying surveillance equipment via a large crane. On Monday, far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the annexation of southern Lebanon, advocating for “sovereignty” over regions under Israeli control.
The Guardian could not independently verify all claims, but the events highlight the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, with both sides continuing to assert their strategic objectives despite recent pauses in attacks.
