Iran Halts Retaliatory Strikes as United States Pauses Bombing Campaign

A fragile pause in hostilities took hold across the Middle East as Iran and the United States held their fire, granting a brief respite to Gulf shipping lanes and international energy markets. The de-escalation followed nearly two weeks of intense, daily U.S. airstrikes that effectively unraveled a temporary ceasefire brokered earlier in the conflict.

U.S. Munitions Concerns and the Strategic Pause

The suspension of the American bombing campaign came after top military advisers warned President Donald Trump that the armed forces were running out of targets and facing a dangerous depletion of defense munitions. Following 13 consecutive nights of airstrikes, the Pentagon suspended the offensive late on Friday, with no U.S. strikes recorded over the weekend.

Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz pushed back on those claims during television appearances. The US military… has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be, Waltz told the BBC, emphasizing that the president was giving talks some space.

Tehran’s Response and Scepticism Over the Lull

In reciprocal fashion, Iranian military officials announced that Tehran had suspended its own operations targeting regional allies hosting U.S. forces. Mohammad Akraminia, Iran’s army spokesperson, stated that because Iran’s strategy is based on reciprocal response, counter-operations had also stopped once Washington halted its raids.

An anonymous official told Reuters that Tehran maintains an attack for attack position, operating under the assumption that the current lull is tactical rather than a genuine shift toward peace.

“There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine. Iran has accumulated enough bitter experience with what it sees as U.S. deception.”

Anonymous Iranian Official, via Reuters

Strait of Hormuz Talks and Market Reactions

At the center of the diplomatic scramble is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor through which a fifth of global oil flows passed before the war disrupted maritime traffic. Technical delegations from Iran and Oman held multiple rounds of discussions in Tehran to negotiate management of the waterway, which the U.S. continues to enforce via a naval blockade.

Financial markets reacted swiftly to the temporary halt in combat. Early trading on Asian markets saw North Sea Brent crude drop 5.89 percent to $91.08 per barrel after briefly dipping below the $90 threshold, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate slid 5.73 percent to $84.19.

Upcoming Washington Meetings and Continuing Risks

Despite the pause, the broader conflict remains volatile as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a high-stakes visit to the White House. Netanyahu, a vocal critic of diplomatic negotiations with Tehran, is expected to press the U.S. administration to maintain a hardline stance, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

President Trump warned during an interview that if regional leaders attempt to restart full-scale combat, they risk acting without American backing. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens across the region remain caught in the crossfire.