A recent statement by U. S. President Donald Trump about a temporary halt to strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure should not be mistaken for a shift away from escalation, The New York Times reports, citing its sources.

According to the publication, Washington and Tel Aviv are still weighing more hardline options. Among the scenarios under discussion are the seizure of Khark Island and the possible deployment of ground forces to take control of Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.

Despite the announced pause, the United States and Israel have not stopped other types of strikes on Iranian territory. At the same time, both countries are reinforcing their military presence in the region. The White House, the report notes, continues to consider moving toward a more aggressive phase of the operation.

The decision to suspend attacks on power infrastructure came after initial contacts between U.S. and Iranian representatives. Trump described these exchanges as productive, but American officials characterize them as preliminary and lacking substantive progress. In Tehran, officials publicly deny that any talks on a potential de-escalation are taking place.

The newspaper also reports that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff has been in direct contact in recent days with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi. Iranian authorities, however, view these communications primarily as an attempt to ease tensions rather than as meaningful negotiations.

On March 23, Trump said that U.S.-Iran talks had been very positive and productive, and instructed the Pentagon to refrain from striking Iran’s energy facilities for five days. Shortly afterward, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher-Ghalibaf rejected reports of negotiations, calling them an attempt to manipulate markets.