Wambui Faith
The United States is set to continue its military operations against Iran, with a temporary pause applying only to strikes targeting Tehran’s energy infrastructure, according to a report by Semafor citing a U.S. official.
The development comes amid what Donald Trump described as “productive” engagements with undisclosed Iranian representatives—claims that Tehran has since firmly denied, insisting that no such negotiations have taken place.
Earlier on Monday, President Trump announced a five-day delay in a planned offensive targeting Iran’s power plants and broader energy facilities, a move initially interpreted as a possible step toward de-escalation. However, fresh details indicate that the pause is narrowly limited in scope.
According to the U.S. official quoted in the report, the suspension strictly applies to energy-related targets, while other military objectives remain active. “The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites,” the official stated, clarifying that operations against Iran’s military infrastructure will proceed uninterrupted.
This includes continued strikes on strategic assets such as naval units, ballistic missile systems, and components of Iran’s defense industrial base. The official further noted that the early phases of the ongoing campaign—referred to as Operation Epic Fury—are still in motion and will not be affected by the temporary halt.
Despite the significance of the claims, Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the details. Additionally, there has been no immediate official response from key U.S. institutions, including the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon, as inquiries were made outside regular working hours.
The report also revealed that Israel is not directly involved in the ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran, highlighting the sensitive and complex nature of the diplomatic and military dynamics at play.
The situation underscores rising tensions in the region, as military actions continue alongside uncertain diplomatic signals, leaving the international community closely watching for any signs of escalation or breakthrough.
The development comes amid what Donald Trump described as “productive” engagements with undisclosed Iranian representatives—claims that Tehran has since firmly denied, insisting that no such negotiations have taken place.
Earlier on Monday, President Trump announced a five-day delay in a planned offensive targeting Iran’s power plants and broader energy facilities, a move initially interpreted as a possible step toward de-escalation. However, fresh details indicate that the pause is narrowly limited in scope.
According to the U.S. official quoted in the report, the suspension strictly applies to energy-related targets, while other military objectives remain active. “The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites,” the official stated, clarifying that operations against Iran’s military infrastructure will proceed uninterrupted.
This includes continued strikes on strategic assets such as naval units, ballistic missile systems, and components of Iran’s defense industrial base. The official further noted that the early phases of the ongoing campaign—referred to as Operation Epic Fury—are still in motion and will not be affected by the temporary halt.
Despite the significance of the claims, Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the details. Additionally, there has been no immediate official response from key U.S. institutions, including the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon, as inquiries were made outside regular working hours.
The report also revealed that Israel is not directly involved in the ongoing discussions between Washington and Tehran, highlighting the sensitive and complex nature of the diplomatic and military dynamics at play.
The situation underscores rising tensions in the region, as military actions continue alongside uncertain diplomatic signals, leaving the international community closely watching for any signs of escalation or breakthrough.
