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Strikes Paused, Talks Expand
The United States paused attacks on Iran for a second straight day as diplomacy moved forward, with US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz telling Fox News that President Donald Trump was "giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room".
“The United States and Iran have pressed pause for a second day on what had been an escalating conflict”
Iran’s army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran had halted "retaliatory" attacks in the region in response, describing the strategy as essentially retaliatory and saying "we have also halted our retaliatory operations."
The pause followed nearly two weeks of daily US strikes and tit-for-tat attacks that had effectively unravelling a ceasefire struck in June, and the BBC reported the renewed fighting had been sparked by Iran’s firing at ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
As the lull held, the BBC said Trump had not spoken publicly on the latest developments as of Sunday evening, but earlier posted computer-generated images on Truth Social depicting US military planes bombing Iranian ships and Kharg island.
The BBC also reported that Iran and Oman held several rounds of technical talks in Tehran on Friday and Saturday to discuss management of the Strait of Hormuz, a major block to permanently ending the war.
Voices, Warnings, and Skepticism
While Waltz told NBC that "I wouldn't go that far at all. The president is keeping all options on the table," the Guardian reported that senior officials had advised Trump to halt the bombing campaign after warnings about dwindling munitions stockpiles.
CNN reported that a US source previously told it that military operations are "on a hold," and the same outlet said Vice President JD Vance and Gen. Dan Caine raised concerns about escalating the war as Trump weighed the possibility during a meeting last week.
Iran’s army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia warned that the Middle East war would "expand further" if Washington chose to continue attacking Iran, telling state television that if the Americans insist on continuing the war "geographically this will expand further."
NPR said White House communications director Steven Cheung argued Trump prefers a diplomatic solution while retaining options, adding: "It would be wise for Iran to work toward a negotiated deal."
NPR also reported that Iran’s army spokesperson told Iran’s state TV that Tehran had as well paused attacks for the past two nights, even as the interim ceasefire deal’s 60-day period remained in its second half.
What’s at Stake Next
The pause is unfolding alongside continued regional pressure over shipping routes, with the BBC saying disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz reignited US-Iran tensions earlier this month and remained a major block to permanently ending the war.
“Trump paused attacks on Iran to make space for talks, US ambassador says President Donald Trump has paused attacks on Iran for the second night in a row to give diplomacy more time, the US ambassador to the UN said”
The Guardian reported that the lull followed nearly two weeks of strikes and the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by Trump, with Washington blaming Iran for strikes on US forces and allies in the region and its closure of the strait of Hormuz.
AP said the U.S. military paused airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, but it remains unclear whether the US and Iran are at an inflection point that could avert a return to all-out war.
AP also noted that Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu planned to visit Washington next week, and it quoted Michael Singh of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy saying the conflict could worsen if Israel comes into the conflict.
As talks continued, the BBC reported that Iran and Oman held technical talks in Tehran to discuss management of the Strait of Hormuz, while CNN said the pause in hostilities was allowing talks to progress and that the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed as the US continued to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
