Trump extends deadline for striking Iran’s energy plants to April 7

(Reuters)

DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON, March 27- U.S. President Donald ​Trump said he would again extend a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its energy plants, after Tehran earlier rejected a 15-point ‌U.S. proposal to end the fighting.

The war has spread across the Middle East, killing thousands of people and hitting the global economy with soaring energy and fertiliser prices that have fuelled inflation fears.

The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28 during talks with Tehran about its nuclear programme that had not yet yielded a deal.

On Thursday, Trump threatened during a cabinet meeting at the White House to increase pressure on Iran if it did not make a deal. He later posted on ​social media that he would pause threatened attacks on Iranian energy plants for 10 days until April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern daylight time (0000 GMT on April 7).

“Talks are ongoing and, despite ​erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” he added in his Truth Social post.