Iran halts attacks on Gulf neighbours after US pauses strikes, second quiet night after 13 days of exchanges
Iran announced it has stopped attacks on Persian Gulf states for two nights, responding to a US pause in bombing. The reciprocal halt, confirmed by Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Akraminia, marks the first break in nearly two weeks of nightly exchanges.
Iran declared on Sunday that it had suspended attacks against neighbouring Gulf states, after the United States halted its own strikes on Iranian territory. The pause, now in its second night, is the first cessation of hostilities since a 13-day cycle of near-daily mutual bombardments.
Iran's declaration and scepticism
Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Akraminia told state television that the decision was directly linked to the American halt. "For the past two nights, the Americans have stopped the attacks. Since our strategy is essentially based on retaliation, we have also suspended our operations," he said, as quoted by AFP. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran's position remains "attack for attack" and that it would resume operations only if the US did so first. The source added that the stance had been communicated to Washington, though Iranian authorities remain cautious about American declarations.
The American pause: ammunition and a warning
CNN, citing a Pentagon source, reported that the American operation is currently "on hold." The network also described a Friday meeting between Vice President J.D. Vance, General Caine, and Donald Trump, at which the president was warned about the possible consequences of further escalation in Iran. According to the New York Times, the US government is concerned about dwindling stocks of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems and other defensive equipment protecting Gulf states. The same report noted fears within the administration of a wider escalation, as the region's countries have again become targets of Iranian retaliation for US actions.
Diplomatic channels and the Omani mission
CBS reported that senior Omani officials travelled to Tehran, and that talks there are yielding results, though negotiators stress they need more time. Oman is one of the mediator states that, together with Pakistan, brokered a preliminary truce agreement signed on 17 June. US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told Fox News that Donald Trump "sees some space for talks with Iran."
He sees some space for talks with Iran.
From truce to escalation and back
The 17 June preliminary ceasefire deal included provisions for unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. In early July, however, Iran resumed attacking vessels that did not comply with its rules. That triggered a series of US strikes on Iran, which were met by retaliatory Iranian raids targeting regional states and American bases there. The broader conflict traces back to 28 February, when the US and Israel attacked Iran; Iran responded with strikes across the Middle East. A ceasefire on 8 April was sporadically broken by smaller-scale exchanges before the June agreement.
- US and Israel attack Iran; Iran responds with strikes across the Middle East.
- Ceasefire between US and Iran takes effect, sporadically broken by smaller exchanges.
- US and Iran sign preliminary truce agreement including provisions for unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran resumes attacks on vessels not complying with its rules; US retaliatory strikes follow.
- First night without mutual attacks in 13 days. Iran says it suspended operations after US halted strikes.
The fragile standstill
No US air raids on Iran were reported at dawn on Sunday, AFP noted, marking the second consecutive night without military action. Neither side has declared a permanent end to armed operations. The regional situation remains tense.
