The United States paused its attacks on Iran for a second consecutive day Sunday, and Tehran said it had done the same, as efforts continued to revive an interim ceasefire deal that had been undermined by recent exchanges of fire.
The pause follows nearly two weeks of escalation, triggered after Iran began firing on ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz. It was not immediately clear why the U.S. halted strikes on Iranian coastal areas and infrastructure, and the Pentagon did not respond to questions over the weekend.
The 60-day window tied to the interim deal signed in mid-June is now well into its second half. Major issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, remain unresolved as mediators try to keep both countries talking.
A regional official involved in the mediation said the mutual pause was a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate,” speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly. The official said negotiators are exploring a compromise in which Iran would manage vessel transit through the strait with fewer restrictions.
Concerns have also spread to the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened last week to blockade Saudi shipping. Gasoline prices have climbed again as the standoff drags on.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said talks with Oman on managing safe passage through Hormuz have made progress, while asserting the strait’s status remains unchanged under the interim deal. The U.S. military said Saturday its naval blockade against Iran continues, with about a dozen commercial ships redirected, two disabled and two boarded.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said President Donald Trump prefers a diplomatic outcome but “would be wise for Iran to work toward a negotiated deal,” Cheung added.
The pause comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday, their first meeting since before the two countries launched the war on Iran in February. Netanyahu told Fox News he backs Trump’s push to weaken Iran’s nuclear program, but warned that a renewed attack on Israel “will make a terrible mistake.”
Hezbollah, which fired on Israel days after the war began, remains the subject of separate U.S.-backed talks between Lebanon and Israel aimed at calming the southern Lebanon front.
Discover more from Daily Planet
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
