Trending Now - Trump Delays Strikes on Iran's Power Plants by Five Days

WHO:

President Donald Trump

Richard Engel, NBC News correspondent

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD)

Tom Homan, White House border czar

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME)

Senate Republicans and Democrats

WHAT:

Trump postponed military strikes on Iranian power plants for five days.

Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by March 23rd, 2026.

Trump stated that the U.S. had "very good and productive conversations" regarding Iran.

Trump ordered the deployment of hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown has lasted for 37 days as of March 23rd, 2026.

Senate Republicans proposed funding all of DHS except ICE.

WHERE:

Strait of Hormuz

U.S. airports

Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

Trump made the threat regarding Iran on March 21st, 2026.

Trump announced the postponement of strikes on March 23rd, 2026.

The DHS shutdown began on February 14th, 2026.

WHY:

The postponement of strikes was influenced by a surge in energy prices and a global market rout due to the US-Israeli war on Tehran.

Trump cited ongoing negotiations as a reason for delaying military action against Iran.

HOW:

Trump communicated his decisions through social media posts.

Senate Republicans approached Trump with a proposal to fund DHS, excluding ICE, to resolve the funding standoff.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 17:48 UTC)

Today, President Trump announced he is postponing military strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, citing productive negotiations and a surge in energy prices as factors in his decision. On March 21, he threatened to "obliterate" these power plants if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by today, while also ordering the deployment of hundreds of ICE agents to U.S. airports amidst a 37-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. In Washington, Senate Republicans have proposed funding all of DHS except for ICE in an effort to resolve the ongoing funding standoff.