- President Donald Trump has extended a deadline for Iran, pushing back the threat of further strikes on its energy plants by ten days.
- The US president initially set a Friday deadline, warning of the “total destruction” of energy facilities if ceasefire talks did not commence.
- The new deadline is April 6, with Trump claiming the extension was requested by the Iranian government and that talks are progressing well.
- However, Tehran has repeatedly denied that any direct negotiations are currently taking place.
- Thousands of additional US troops have been deployed to the Middle East, with suggestions that a ground operation, potentially targeting Kharg Island, was considered to increase leverage, despite risks of casualties.