Why Donald Trump Is Holding Back on Iran Strikes Amid Global Market Fears

In the middle of rising tensions in West Asia, US President Donald Trump has decided to delay potential strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure — and the reason goes beyond just diplomacy.

According to Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group, the move is largely driven by concerns about the already fragile global energy market. With tensions escalating, markets are nervous about what could happen if the situation worsens.

Earlier, Trump had warned of targeting Iran’s energy facilities and power grid. In response, Tehran made it clear that any such move would trigger retaliation — potentially targeting energy hubs across Gulf countries and even affecting Israel’s electricity systems. Experts say this kind of escalation could create a worst-case scenario for global energy supplies.

Vaez explained that such attacks wouldn’t just disrupt oil exports temporarily but could damage production for months or even years. This would likely lead to major supply shortages and unstable energy prices worldwide.

There are already signs of impact. Nearly 17% of Qatar’s natural gas production capacity has reportedly been affected, with recovery expected to take several years. This has added to global concerns.

While the US administration has presented the pause as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, analysts believe there may be more behind the scenes. Vaez suggested that Washington could be preparing for a strategic escalation at a later stage to shift the balance of the conflict.

Recently, Trump announced that the pause on strikes would be extended by 10 days, pushing the deadline to April 6, 2026. He stated that this decision followed a request from Iran and claimed that discussions between the two sides were progressing positively.

This extension comes after earlier delays, including an initial five-day pause, highlighting how quickly the situation is evolving. Previously, Trump had even warned Iran to reopen the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face possible military action.

For now, the pause signals a delicate balancing act — between avoiding a global energy crisis and keeping pressure on Iran — as both sides continue negotiations.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.