The United States has paused its military campaign against Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying airstrikes, as diplomatic efforts push forward in an attempt to pull the two countries back from the brink of all-out war — though it remains far from clear whether the lull will hold.
President Trump halted lethal strikes over the weekend following 13 days of escalating attacks, and said the pause came at Iran’s own request. “They asked us very nicely, ‘Please stop, let’s meet,'” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “And that’s where we are right now, see what happens. If we don’t make a deal, we go back to the same thing.”
Mixed Signals From Tehran
Iran’s messaging has been notably inconsistent. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the pause was meant to give ongoing negotiations “some space,” and said mediators had indicated real progress was being made. But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei pushed back hard on that framing, telling reporters Monday that “we have no negotiations with the United States at present” and that Iran “will never allow the United States to determine the timing of war and peace.” Baghaei added that Tehran does not consider the current lull a genuine ceasefire.
What Sparked the Latest Escalation
The nearly two-week bombing campaign was touched off after Iran began firing on ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, shredding an earlier ceasefire brokered in Islamabad. According to one official familiar with the talks, both sides now want to return to that interim ceasefire framework, with a potential compromise centered on Iran overseeing vessel transit through the strait under looser restrictions.
The Stakes Keep Rising
The conflict is set to reach its five-month mark this week, far exceeding early administration predictions that it could be resolved within roughly 60 days. Oil prices spiked to a two-month high above $100 a barrel during the fighting before easing back to around $92, and reporting suggests dwindling U.S. munitions stockpiles may be factoring into military planning as officials weigh their next move. Complicating matters further, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Washington next week for talks with Trump, adding another variable to an already unpredictable diplomatic moment.
This story is developing.
