US and Iran halt strikes, opening fragile window for diplomacy

President Donald Trump ordered a halt to U.S. military strikes on Iran after 13 consecutive nights of bombing, with his administration signaling an effort to create space for diplomatic engagement. Iran has reciprocated, suspending its own retaliatory operations across the Gulf region, though Tehran expressed deep skepticism about whether the pause marks a genuine shift in Washington's posture.

A Fragile Lull

"He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News on Sunday. The Pentagon confirmed operations are "on hold," according to CNN, which cited a Department of Defense source. There were no reports of attacks by either side over the weekend.straitstimes+2

Iran's army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia confirmed Sunday that Tehran had also stopped operations. "These attacks continued until two nights ago, but over the past two nights the Americans have stopped their attacks," Akraminia said. "Since our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations".al-monitor+1

Yet a senior Iranian official conveyed deep doubt to Reuters Thomson Reuters Corporation ↗ 8.44% about American intentions. "There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine," the official said.lbc+1

Behind the Pause

Multiple factors contributed to Trump's decision. CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine raised concerns about dwindling U.S. munitions stockpiles during a White House meeting on Friday. The New York Times separately reported that plans to escalate the campaign had been shelved in part because of shrinking supplies. Vance has for months questioned whether the Pentagon has been giving Trump an accurate picture of the war's toll on American weapons reserves.yenisafak+3

Diplomacy Intensifies

An Omani delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks on mechanisms governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. The strait, through which roughly one-fifth of global crude oil once flowed, has been effectively closed to commercial traffic since Iran blocked it at the start of the conflict in late February.middleeastmonitor+1

The war, now approaching its fifth month, has killed at least 14 U.S. service members and injured more than 400, while Iranian officials have reported at least 50 deaths and over 500 injuries from U.S. strikes in recent weeks alone. Trump warned Friday that he remained prepared for a "much higher level" of strikes should Iran fail to meet American demands, leaving the durability of this weekend's quiet uncertain.nypost+1