Donald Trump Delays Another Attack on Iran's Energy Facilities after US Stock Market Weakens

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump has again postponed his threat to destroy Iran's energy facilities after the US stock market was shaken. Arab News reported on Friday, March 27, Trump gave Iran an additional 10 days until April 6, 2026 at 20.00 US Eastern Time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes every day.

Trump said the delay was granted because talks to end the conflict were "going very well". He also claimed that the grace period was requested by Iran. In an interview on Fox News, Trump said Iran asked for seven days, but he gave 10 days.

The decision was announced shortly after Wall Street closed in a depressed state. The S&P 500 index fell 1.7 percent, the Dow Jones fell 469 points or 1 percent, and the Nasdaq fell 2.4 percent. It was the largest daily loss for the US market since the war with Iran began.

According to Arab News, this is not the first time Trump has changed course after the market has been volatile. Previously, he had given Tehran a deadline of 48 hours to open the strait, then extended it five days after the Asian market was shaken. Now, after the US market has been hit again, the deadline has been extended again.

At the same time, Trump rejected the notion that his administration was having trouble finding a way out of the conflict. He claimed Iran had been "decisively defeated" and said talks with the right parties were underway. However, Iran still stated that it was not negotiating with the White House on the 15-point proposal that was said to have been delivered through an intermediary in Pakistan.

Arab News also wrote that Iran actually challenged Trump's threat by warning that it would retaliate if the US or Israel attacked its power plant. Tehran is also said to have tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, amid efforts to create a kind of "toll gate" for passing tankers.

The uncertainty is making global investors uneasy. For the market, the issue is not only the war, but also whether Trump is able to end it and reopen the important shipping lanes.

Although the White House is trying to minimize the impact of the war on the economy, the pressure is still felt. Trump admitted that he had predicted that oil prices and market pressures would be worse. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Scott Bessent said more tankers were expected to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

But behind the claim of diplomatic progress, Washington is still increasing its military strength in the region. The Pentagon is preparing at least 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, in addition to about 5,000 Marines who are being shifted to the Middle East and 50,000 US personnel who are already in the region.