DUBAI/WASHINGTON: The United States and Iran held fire for a second consecutive day on Sunday after Washington suspended its bombing campaign against Iran, creating a temporary pause in fighting as both sides weighed the possibility of renewed diplomacy.
The pause came after 13 nights of U.S. airstrikes on Iran, with the Pentagon halting operations late Friday. No U.S. strikes were reported on Saturday or Sunday, while Iran also stopped retaliatory attacks against neighboring countries hosting U.S. military bases.
Why Have the US and Iran Stopped Attacking Each Other?
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would halt its military operations as long as the United States did the same, describing Iran’s position as “attack for attack.”
“If the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that the message had already been conveyed to Washington.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said President Donald Trump paused the strikes to allow more time for diplomatic efforts.
“He’s giving talks some space, he’s giving it a little bit of room,” Waltz told U.S. media outlets on Sunday.
A U.S. official said military advisers had raised concerns that continued strikes could reduce available weapons stocks, including missile interceptors used by U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The official said U.S. commanders believed the campaign had largely exhausted the pre-selected targets identified before the operation began. Resuming major combat operations remained an option, but military officials warned it could carry additional risks.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, privately advised President Trump about the risks associated with continuing the operation, according to the official. The Pentagon, U.S. Central Command and Caine’s office declined to comment.
Waltz said the U.S. military had the capability to continue operations but acknowledged that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had inherited a situation involving depleted resources when he took office.
Will the US-Iran Ceasefire Pause Lead to Renewed Diplomacy?
Despite the halt in fighting, Iranian officials expressed doubts that the pause represented a major change in U.S. policy.
“There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks,” the senior Iranian official said, adding that Tehran viewed the pause as potentially “tactical rather than genuine.”
The latest escalation began after Washington said it launched strikes in response to Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
Iran responded by targeting water desalination facilities in Gulf Arab states that host U.S. forces. Tehran has said it seeks to maintain control over the strategic waterway, through which a significant share of global oil shipments passed before the conflict intensified.
The renewed U.S. military campaign disrupted an interim agreement reached last month that had aimed to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Media reports said Trump’s decision to pause the strikes followed discussions with senior military and political advisers, including concerns raised about the effectiveness and sustainability of the campaign.
U.S. officials said a return to military operations remained possible if diplomatic efforts failed.
In Iran, residents remained uncertain about whether the pause would last.
“Everyone in the country is stuck in limbo,” Nader, a 49-year-old Tehran-based import-export businessman, told Reuters by telephone. “Trump is playing games with Iran. He neither ends the war and leaves the region nor strikes decisively. It’s exhausting.”