US will continue strikes on Iran, excluding energy sites — report
According to a US official, strikes on Iran will continue to target military sites, while attacks on energy infrastructure are paused due to negotiations claimed by Trump.
The United States will continue its strikes on Iran, with the pause applying only to attacks on Tehran's energy sites, Semafor reported on Tuesday, citing a US official, during what President Donald Trump has described as "productive" talks with unidentified Iranian officials.
"The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites," a US official told Semafor.
"It is not on the military sites and the navy, and the ballistic missiles, and the defence industrial base. The initial initiatives of (Operation) Epic Fury will continue," he told the news agency.
Earlier on Monday, Trump postponed for five days a plan to hit Iran’s energy grid after he gave a 48‑hour ultimatum that Iran must allow free passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran retaliated against Trump’s threat by saying that more energy sites in the Gulf region will be Tehran’s targets, which will cripple the global economy.
Tehran later denied that it had engaged in negotiations with the United States, refuting Trump’s claims.
The White House, the US State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Semafor report also added that Israel was not party to Washington's talks with Tehran.
Israel’s vital interests
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Donald Trump regarding Iran, after the US president’s announcement of talks.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading negotiations, with Israel receiving updates but not participating directly.
According to Semafor, Vice President JD Vance may be “leveraged” in future negotiations, though only Trump, Witkoff and Kushner are currently authorised to engage with Iran.