US President Donald Trump has paused further attacks on Iran for the third consecutive night, giving diplomatic efforts more time as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said the president was allowing negotiations more space while keeping the possibility of further military action open.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Waltz said Trump was “giving talks some space; he’s giving it a little bit of room.” However, he stressed that the pause did not mean the US had ruled out escalation.
Speaking to NBC, Waltz said, “I wouldn’t go that far at all. The president is keeping all options on the table.”
The pause comes after nearly two weeks of daily US strikes and retaliatory attacks between the two sides, effectively undermining a ceasefire agreement reached in June.
Iran’s military spokesperson said Tehran had also halted retaliatory attacks in the region in response to the US decision.
The conflict has centred heavily on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil, liquefied natural gas, and other essential commodities.
Iran and Oman held technical discussions in Tehran over the weekend regarding the management of the strategic waterway, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained a major obstacle in efforts to secure a permanent end to the conflict after tensions escalated earlier this month.
The United States resumed airstrikes on Iran after Iranian forces attacked tankers in the strait on 13 July, leading Washington to reinstate a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran later responded with attacks on US military facilities across the Middle East, killing four American soldiers, according to US officials.
Iran’s health ministry has reported that US strikes have killed dozens of people.
Meanwhile, global oil markets reacted to the pause in hostilities, with prices falling below $90 per barrel on Monday after reaching $100 last week for the first time since May.
The drop came as investors welcomed signs of a possible diplomatic opening and reduced fears of disruptions to global energy supplies.
Despite the pause, US officials insist military preparations are continuing. Waltz rejected reports that the US could face shortages of air defence equipment because of the conflict, saying American forces have the resources needed to continue operations.
President Trump has not publicly addressed the latest developments but earlier shared computer-generated images on his Truth Social account depicting US military aircraft striking Iranian targets.
The conflict has also faced growing criticism inside the United States. A CBS/YouGov poll showed that 57% of Americans are frustrated with the war, while only 19% remain optimistic about its outcome.
In the United Kingdom, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he would meet his US counterpart Pete Hegseth to discuss security in the Strait of Hormuz and protecting international commercial shipping.
President Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, with the Iran conflict likely to be a key issue on the agenda.
As diplomatic talks continue, it remains unclear whether the current pause will lead to a lasting ceasefire or only delay further escalation.
