Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks
Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks
Following a brief respite in U.S. military actions against Iran’s energy infrastructure, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) initiated fresh airstrikes on Tehran. The decision came after President Donald Trump indicated a temporary halt in attacks, citing “productive” discussions with Tehran as a reason. The IDF emphasized its commitment to carrying out operations under Israeli government instructions, vowing to continue strikes until further notice.
Approximately 40 minutes after Trump’s announcement, the IDF posted on X that it had “just begun another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran.” The military’s focus on energy sites has raised speculation that Israel may coordinate with Washington to suspend attacks on Iran’s power plants, though this remains unconfirmed. An IDF official told the Times of Israel the move was “political echelon matter,” stressing that operations followed directives from Israel’s leadership.
“We have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations,” Trump wrote on social media, adding that he had “instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period.”
Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent in Tehran noted the intensity of explosions as “unprecedented,” highlighting the scale of the Israeli assault. Despite the U.S. pause, Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, warned that strikes on Iranian infrastructure would mark a significant escalation in the conflict. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards retaliated by launching an attack on Israeli targets.
Washington’s decision to delay strikes on Iran’s energy sites was reportedly communicated to Israeli officials, with sources suggesting alignment with U.S. strategy. However, the Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment on the ongoing talks or the pause in targeting Iranian facilities. In a Monday statement, the IDF claimed to have hit multiple military and strategic locations in Iran, including air defense headquarters and missile production facilities.
The Guardian could not independently confirm the strikes, while the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported 206 attacks across 15 provinces in the past 24 hours, causing at least four casualties. Recent strikes in Tabriz city resulted in six deaths, with at least 15% of total casualties in Iran being children under 18. Since the conflict began, fatalities have exceeded 1,500, with some rights groups estimating up to 3,230 deaths by 21 March.
The IDF stated it had neutralized or damaged about 330 of Iran’s 470 estimated ballistic missile launchers. Over half were destroyed in airstrikes, while others were disabled by targeting underground storage sites. Air force operations continue to focus on remaining launchers, as missile fire on Israel has dropped to around 10 per day from nearly 90 initially. Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon persists, with recent strikes in Beirut targeting a Quds Force-linked militant group. One fatality was reported by Lebanon’s health ministry, and Israeli forces had established positions in Aita al-Chaab, deploying surveillance equipment.
