President Donald Trump has paused U.S. military attacks on Iran for the second night in a row to allow room for diplomatic negotiations, according to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. The lull follows nearly two weeks of escalating strikes and tit-for-tat attacks that had effectively unravelling a June ceasefire.
The sudden shift in strategy comes after 13 nights of escalating strikes. While the Pentagon has halted bombing operations, the administration is framing the move not as a retreat, but as a calculated opening for dialogue. According to a senior administration official, the president has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way.
An Iranian army spokesperson also stated on Sunday that Tehran had halted “retaliatory” attacks in the region in response.
Ambassador Mike Waltz on Strategic Diplomacy
Speaking on Fox News Sunday
, Ambassador Mike Waltz clarified that the president is giving talks some space, he’s giving it a little bit of room
. Despite the pause, Waltz told NBC that he would not go so far as to say the president has decided against further escalation, noting that the president is keeping all options on the table
.
Waltz also used the appearance to push back against reporting from the New York Times. He rejected claims that administration officials warned about a diminished stockpile of air defence munitions. Instead, he asserted that the US military… has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be
.
The Strait of Hormuz and Global Energy Stakes
A central point of contention remains the management of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for liquid natural gas, oil, and other essential commodities. This specific geography has become a major block to permanently ending the war. Tensions reignited earlier this month, leading to a collapse of a June memorandum of understanding that had aimed to halt military operations and reopen the strait, as well as reach an agreement to end the war over the following 60 days.
The instability has already hit the global economy. Oil prices hit $100 a barrel earlier this week for the first time since May, driven by renewed fighting that stoked fears over global energy supplies. The volatility follows a sequence of escalation: Iranian forces attacked tankers in the strait on 13 July, prompting the U.S. to resume airstrikes and reinstate its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
In response to these developments, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to meet U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth in the coming week. Streeting told the BBC that when it comes to securing maritime freedom and free commercial shipping in the Straight of Hormuz, that’s where we are absolutely aligned
.
Human Cost and Domestic Pressure
As the war nears its fifth month, the toll on the ground is severe. Thousands have been killed across the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February, with the vast majority coming from Iran and Lebanon. The U.S. has also suffered losses, including four American soldiers killed during Iranian retaliatory attacks on military facilities and bases across the Middle East. According to Iran’s health ministry, U.S. strikes have since killed dozens of people.
This mounting casualty count is reflecting in U.S. public opinion. A recent CBS/YouGov poll indicates that 57% of Americans are frustrated about the conflict and only 19% optimistic.
The current lull in fighting coincides with critical diplomatic movement. According to Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, Iran and Oman held several rounds of technical talks in Tehran on Friday and Saturday to discuss the management of the strait. This diplomatic window precedes a high-stakes meeting on Tuesday, when President Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House.
The administration’s willingness to pause strikes suggests a calculated bet: that the combination of economic pressure—seen in the $100 oil spike—and military force has finally brought Iran to a point where diplomacy is the only viable path forward.
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