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Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has vowed that his nation will impose a “HEAVY price” in response to what he described as an Israeli military breach of a ceasefire agreement concerning Iranian energy infrastructure, established by the Trump administration.
Araghchi stated that Israel targeted two of Iran’s major steel factories, a power plant, and civilian nuclear sites, among other critical infrastructures. He claimed these actions were taken in coordination with the United States. The minister shared his remarks in a post on social platform X on Friday.
He further criticized the attack, stating that it contradicts the extended diplomatic deadline announced by President Trump. Trump had recently decided to prolong a pause on assaults against Iranian energy facilities, which was initially meant to last five days.
President Trump had announced this extension on Truth Social, writing, “At the request of the Iranian Government, this statement serves to confirm a pause in the destruction of energy plants for 10 days, until Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M. Eastern Time.”
Trump also mentioned that the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran were progressing positively.
“As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
In making the announcement, he said talks between the U.S. and Iran were “going very well.”
Trump adviser Steve Witkoff said Thursday that the U.S. had sent over a 15-point “action list” to Tehran through Pakistani officials this week, calling the talks “strong and productive.” Iranian officials responded to this proposed plan with several demands of their own.
The president also revealed Thursday that Iranian officials permitted 10 oil-carrying ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to the U.S. A fifth of the world’s oil flows through this waterway, and Iranian counterstrikes on U.S. military bases and energy infrastructure in the region have effectively halted the flow of barrels through this passage.
International benchmark Brent crude was trading at about $113.7 per barrel Friday afternoon, while the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate was trading just less than $100 per barrel.
The Trump administration is under pressure to bring down rising costs for American consumers. The average rate of standard gas in the U.S. was up to $3.98 per gallon Friday, almost exactly a dollar increase from a month ago.
Trump has moved to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian, Venezuelan and Iranian oil already at sea to offset these rising costs. Additionally, his administration has looked to boost domestic oil production and tapped the U.S.’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
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