The temporary halt in the nearly five-month-old conflict comes as diplomatic channels remain active to prevent a full-scale escalation, and ahead of a planned White House visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
According to statements reported by Iranian state media on Sunday, Tehran acknowledged the shift in operations. Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia noted that while US attacks continued until two nights prior, the Americans had paused over the past 48 hours, prompting a corresponding halt in Iranian retaliatory operations against US allies in the region.
The operational pause follows nearly two weeks of intensive US strikes and the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration. Washington had blamed Iran for targeting US forces and disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor carrying roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies.
Military Limitations and Dwindling Munitions
Senior Trump administration officials advised the president regarding shrinking stockpiles of essential munitions, including Patriot missile interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could impede a prolonged military campaign, according to media reports. Axios reported on Sunday that Adm Bradley Cooper, the top US military commander in the region, informed President Donald Trump that the campaign had reached the limits of its current effectiveness.
Admiral Cooper reportedly indicated that the US military had nearly exhausted its list of targets inside Iran, arguing that continuing the bombing campaign offered diminishing strategic value without transitioning to major ground or full-scale combat operations. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, US UN Ambassador Mike Waltz stated that the administration was keeping all options on the table and had not ruled out future strikes.
Vice President JD Vance and Gen Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, raised concerns during an Oval Office meeting on Friday regarding the risks of sustaining the military campaign, prompting the order to call off pending strikes.
Diplomatic Engagements and the Strait of Hormuz
Concurrently, diplomatic efforts are underway to address the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and de-escalate regional tensions. Senior diplomats from Iran and Oman held discussions on Sunday focused on reopening the vital waterway, while officials in Tehran confirmed direct communication with US negotiators.
“Mediators are working and trying to prevent tension from escalating,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated during a press conference on Sunday. Despite the talks, Iranian military officials maintained a firm posture, criticizing what they characterized as strategic fatigue in Washington’s decision-making process.
President Trump addressed reporters on Friday regarding the ongoing communications. “We’re talking to them right now,” Trump said. “I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by. We’re locked and loaded and ready to go, but we’re talking to them.” Later that evening at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, he added that while he did not believe Iran was prepared for a comprehensive deal, he remained open to listening.
Upcoming White House Visit and International Coordination
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House on Tuesday following a security cabinet meeting in Israel. Netanyahu, a vocal opponent of Washington’s negotiations with Tehran, has consistently pressed for continued military action and is navigating domestic political pressure ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for October.
The diplomatic and military maneuvering coincides with heightened violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces launched an operation following recent clashes. Meanwhile, the UK government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the United States are discussing plans for a high-level meeting in London this week to explore forming a coalition dedicated to protecting commercial shipping and de-mining the Strait of Hormuz.
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