Dubai- US President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to April 6.

The president made the statement Thursday in a social media post. He said he will hold off on bombing Iran’s energy plants.

The update comes even as earlier in the day, the two countries appeared at an impasse, hardening their positions over ceasefire talks. Thousands more US troops neared the region, Israel poured more troops into southern Lebanon to fight the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, and Tehran tightened its grip on the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Sirens over Israel warned of barrages of incoming Iranian missiles, and Gulf nations worked to intercept fire. Heavy strikes were reported in Iran’s capital and other cities. (AP)