Donald Trump has said he has postponed attacks against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure after “very good and productive conversations” with Tehran.

The US president said the pause would last for five days and depended on “the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions”.

He had previously given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum that warned the US would “obliterate” its power plants unless it stopped blocking the Strait of Hormuz – a deadline that was set to expire just before midnight UK time.

Iran war latest: Tehran says US has ‘backed down’

But Mr Trump struck a more positive tone in his Truth Social post on Monday.

He said the US and Iran had been talking over the last two days about a “complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East” and he had told officials to “postpone any and all military strikes” against its power network.

Iran had warned it would float mines in the Persian Gulf and attack regional power plants if the US followed through.

State media framed the latest development as a victory – with a TV banner reading: “US president backs down following Iran’s firm warning.”

It’s not yet known who was involved in the talks or how they took place.

The Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway used to transport about a fifth of global oil and liquefied ⁠natural gas – effectively remains shut due to the threat of Iranian attacks.

Oil prices have spiked and the economic effects are already being felt. Petrol prices have increased and there’s a warning energy bills, inflation and interest rates could go up if the war drags on.

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However, Mr Trump’s update raised hopes that tensions could be easing – oil prices dipped 10% and natural gas fell 6% in the wake of his post.

The president’s more upbeat tone comes after a major escalation last week when Iran caused significant damage to a liquefied natural gas site in Qatar in retaliation for an Israeli strike on its own South Pars gas field.

For now, peace in the region still appears some way off.

In a familiar pattern in the month-long conflict, Israel said this morning it had launched “wide-scale” strikes on Iran, while Tehran fired missiles at the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

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Authorities say more than 2,500 people have died; some 1,500 in Iran and more than 1,000 in Lebanon as Israel attacks the country’s paramilitary Hezbollah group.

Lebanon‘s president has claimed Israel is preparing for a “ground invasion” after it struck bridges in the south.

Fifteen Israelis and 13 US military personnel have also so far died in the war.

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a Vermont state police sergeant is entitled to qualified immunity in a lawsuit brought by a protester who said she was injured when an officer used a wristlock to remove her from a sit-in at the state capitol.

In a per curiam opinion unsigned, the court reversed the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Zorn v. Linton, holding that existing precedent did not clearly establish that Sgt. Jacob Zorn’s specific conduct violated the Constitution. 

“The Second Circuit held that Zorn was not entitled to qualified immunity,” the ruling read. “We reverse.”

The justices said officers are generally shielded from civil liability unless prior case law put the unlawfulness of their actions “beyond debate.” 

The case arose from a 2015 sit-in by healthcare protesters at the Vermont capitol on Gov. Peter Shumlin’s inauguration day. After the building closed, police moved to arrest demonstrators who refused to leave. According to the opinion, protester Shela Linton remained seated and linked arms with others. Zorn warned her he would have to use force, then took her arm, placed it behind her back, applied pressure to her wrist and lifted her to her feet. Linton later sued, alleging physical and psychological injuries. 

The Supreme Court said the 2nd Circuit relied too heavily on its earlier decision in Amnesty America v. West Hartford, finding that case did not clearly establish that “using a routine wristlock to move a resistant protester after warning her, without more, violates the Constitution.” 

On that basis, the justices concluded Zorn was entitled to qualified immunity and reversed the lower court.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She argued the court had improperly stepped in with the “extraordinary remedy of a summary reversal” and said a jury could find the officer used excessive force against a nonviolent protester engaged in passive resistance.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Hundreds of ships are stranded in the Gulf due to the Iran and America-Israel war. Amidst the global energy crisis caused by the war in Western Asia, a relief news has emerged for India. According to sources, two Indian LPG ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This happened even as traffic on this vital waterway was still affected.

Two Indian LPG tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Al Jazeera, quoting data and sources, reported that two Indian-flagged LPG tankers strait of hormuz While traffic on this important waterway is still blocked. Ship tracking data from the Marine Traffic Platform revealed that the Pine Gas tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday (23 March), with Jug Vasant also following behind it. Let us tell you that due to the war that broke out between America, Israel and Iran, hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors are stranded in the Gulf.

LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant were near Iran’s waters between Larak and Quesham islands on Monday afternoon. Both are walking close to each other. Both these ships were among the 22 Indian-flagged ships that got stuck in the Persian Gulf after the war in West Asia.

Shivalik-Nanda Devi have safely returned to India.

Earlier, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi carrying approximately 92,712 tonnes of LPG have safely reached the Indian coast. At that time, 28 Indian flagged ships were present in the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 24 were in the western part of the strait and four were in the eastern part. In the last few days, two ships each from both sides have been successful in reaching the strait safely.

lpg The bringing ship Shivalik reached Mundra port in Gujarat on 16 March. Another LPG tanker Nanda Devi reached Kandla port in Gujarat the next day. Both LPG carrier ships started their journey on 13 March and crossed the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of 14 March. Both the LPG ships started the journey on 13 March and crossed the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of 14 March.

‘Jag Prakash’ is also returning

Apart from this, Indian flag oil tanker Jag Ladki laden with 80,886 tonnes of crude oil from UAE reached Mundra port on March 18. Another tanker, Jag Prakash, has already safely transited the strait and is on its way to Tanzania. It was carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa.