ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he has extended a deadline for the destruction of Iranian power plants by an additional ten days, claiming that Tehran requested an extension once again after he warned energy infrastructure will be targeted should the Strait of Hormuz not be reopened.

"I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026 at 8 P.M., Eastern Time," he wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that "talks are ongoing" with Iran despite "erroneous statements" in the media.

Earlier in the day, Trump also mentioned taking over Iran’s oil as a viable option as the conflict continues to unfold.

The developments came after Washington threatened to destroy Iranian energy infrastructure if the strategic waterway was not opened.

"If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump wrote on March 22.

Later on Thursday, speaking on the extension of the deadline for Iranian authorities, Trump said they have asked him through his people, “very nicely, could we have more time?” he said, speaking to Fox News. 

He said Tehran initially asked for seven days, but he gave them 10 days because of what he described as a “gift” Iran offered, saying “they gave me ships.” 

He added that he did not like the fact that “they may say, ‘Oh, we’re not speaking.’ I don’t like that, because that wasn’t true the last time,” and said the talks are going “fairly well.”

“If they don’t do what they have to do, I will knock out their power plants.”

He further noted, “Does that include nuclear? Because they have nuclear, you know, plenty of money,” adding that Iranian nuclear and power plant sites are worth significant sums, describing them as “massive and very expensive, billions of dollars.”

The US and Israel have been at war with Iran for nearly five weeks, with daily airstrikes across the country and retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday confirmed that indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Islamabad, are taking place, despite Iran claiming that it rejected the talks.

On Monday, Trump referred to a 15-point agreement with Iran, saying he was in contact with a top Iranian leader, while denying recognition of newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s position and role. 

Iranian semi-official media, citing an unnamed source, on Thursday reported that Tehran has responded to the proposal and attached certain conditions required for Iran to approve any ceasefire, including reparations, guarantees of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and ending attacks on pro-Iran groups across the region

During the conflict, Iran has closed the strategic strait, responsible for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil, in its war against the US and Israel, causing a sharp rise in oil prices.

As a sign of goodwill, Trump said Iran sent the US 10 tanker ships of oil to initiate the renewed talks, though there is no independent evidence of such a shipment.

It remains unclear who Washington is negotiating with, as Iran denies entering the renewed talks and most of Iran’s top leaders have been killed, among them the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top security chief Ali Larijani.

The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance and is believed to be badly wounded.