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Iran and the United States refrained from launching attacks on Sunday, offering temporary relief to Gulf shipping and global oil markets as both sides signalled a willingness to give diplomacy another chance.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump was allowing negotiations “a little bit of room,” despite American forces remaining on high alert.
Iran also confirmed it had suspended retaliatory attacks against US allies in the Middle East after Washington halted its military strikes for a second consecutive night.
Credit: Reuters
Iran’s army spokesman, Mohammad Akraminia, said the United States had stopped its attacks two nights earlier and Tehran had responded by pausing its retaliatory operations.
Before the lull, the US military had carried out strikes on Iran for 13 straight nights, marking the most intense phase of the conflict since an April ceasefire collapsed.
The fighting, which initially centred on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, later expanded to include attacks on US bases, regional shipping and Gulf allies.
Unconfirmed Iranian media reports on Sunday also claimed an oil tanker had been damaged by a sea mine.
The temporary pause has renewed hopes for diplomatic talks, although some US media reports suggested the slowdown could be linked to concerns over American stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles and other defensive weapons.
Waltz rejected the claims, insisting the US military had sufficient resources to continue operations if necessary.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme with President Trump during a White House meeting on Tuesday.
Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said he supported Trump’s efforts to end Iran’s nuclear programme, whether through diplomacy or military action.
“If he can do so without returning to intense military fighting, that’s fine. Why not? But one way or the other, they have to end their nuclear programme,” Netanyahu said.
President Trump said on Friday that he had not decided whether to resume a broader military campaign, adding that negotiations with Iran were becoming increasingly serious.
The conflict, which Trump initially predicted would last only a few weeks, is now approaching its fifth month and has become a growing political challenge ahead of November’s US midterm elections.
Meanwhile, the conflict continued on another front as Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they shot down a Saudi drone over northwestern Yemen a day after announcing attacks on Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu.
The Houthis said the strikes were carried out in response to Saudi air raids on Houthi positions on Friday.
