US President Donald Trump’s decision not to follow through on his 48-hour ultimatum — that it would attack power plants in Iran if Tehran refuses to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz — along with his announcement of a five-day pause, offers a glimmer of hope. The consequences of the threatened attack, coupled with Iran’s probable retaliation, targeting energy infrastructure and desalination plants across the Gulf, would be disastrous for the region and a global economy. Of course, Trump’s pause is not a ceasefire, it applies only to the threat of attacks on Iran’s energy sites, and Israel isn’t a party to the discussions. Still, the pause offers the first signs of de-escalation since the conflict began. Now that some room has opened up for diplomacy, Washington and Tehran must seize the opportunity to work towards a ceasefire.

Source: Indian Express March 25, 2026 07:33 UTC