The US and Iran paused air strikes as US Ambassador Mike Waltz confirmed President Trump is giving diplomatic talks space to work.
A fragile calm has settled over the Middle East after United States President Donald Trump ordered a pause on military strikes against Iranian targets, handing global shipping corridors and energy markets a much-needed operational respite. The unexpected halt in heavy bombardment follows nearly two consecutive weeks of intense, round-the-clock air strikes that threatened to escalate into a full-scale regional conflict. In response to Washington holding its fire, military authorities in Tehran confirmed that Iranian forces have similarly suspended retaliatory strikes against American military facilities and regional commercial shipping lanes, opening a narrow diplomatic window for mediator nations.
The temporary ceasefire arrangement unfolded across strategic military zones in the Persian Gulf and key international waterways, most notably around the vital Strait of Hormuz. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz officially confirmed the strategic shift during Sunday news broadcasts, explaining that President Trump decided to pause offensive operations to give ongoing diplomatic discussions room to breathe. The diplomatic shift comes as technical negotiations between Iranian representatives and Omani mediators progress in Tehran to establish safer transit rules through the narrow waterway.
The decision to pause air operations arrived late Friday. It extended through the weekend, marking a sudden transition after 13 consecutive nights of escalating bombardment following the breakdown of an earlier June ceasefire agreement. While the Pentagon has kept specific operational motives confidential, UN Envoy Waltz stressed that while American forces remain fully deployed and “locked and loaded” in the region, the administration wanted to give peaceful dialogue a legitimate opportunity. The sudden pause was also driven by intense domestic and international pressure, as global energy markets reacted sharply to supply chain fears, pushing crude oil prices above $100 per barrel before early Monday markets saw prices fall back down toward $90 following news of the lull.
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Despite the temporary halt in missile launches, officials on both sides emphasize that a permanent peace agreement remains far off. Iranian military commanders cautioned that their halt in operations is strictly conditional and retaliatory, warning that any renewed American strike will trigger immediate counter-attacks against regional targets. Meanwhile, senior diplomatic talks continue in Oman and Tehran as world leaders monitor whether this operational pause can transform into a lasting peace framework.
