On July 26, 2026, President Donald Trump abruptly called off a planned escalation of U.S. air strikes against Iran, ordering a pause after nearly two weeks of consecutive nightly attacks. The move came amid intensive, behind-the-scenes diplomacy and raised hopes of a temporary de‑escalation in a conflict that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed energy markets higher. (investing.com)
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would reciprocate the pause — stopping its own strikes “as long as the United States maintains its latest pause” — though the source stressed Iran remained skeptical of U.S. intentions and described Tehran’s stance as “attack for attack.” The comment underlined how fragile any stand‑down would be without firm guarantees or a written agreement. (investing.com)
U.S. officials said the pause followed internal warnings about escalation. Two senior figures in the administration, Vice‑President J.D. Vance and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, flagged concerns about the risks and the strain on U.S. munitions and options as the White House debated whether to press further. Those concerns, reported by CNN, were influential in the decision to hold strikes. (keyt.com)
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, told media the pause was intended to “give talks some space,” signaling Washington’s desire to let diplomatic channels — including an Omani delegation that spent days in Tehran — pursue a practical arrangement for managing vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, a narrow waterway through which a large share of global oil and gas passes, has been a central battleground in recent weeks. (apnews.com)
Military leaders also pressed caution. Sources reported that the head of U.S. Central Command had recommended suspending the bombing campaign around Hormuz unless the United States was prepared to escalate further — a warning that helped shape the president’s pause. The recommendation reflected U.S. military concerns about the effectiveness and limits of sustained strikes in the area. (axios.com)
Diplomats and regional officials called the mutual pause a positive, if provisional, signal for de‑escalation, but they warned progress remained brittle. Negotiators are said to be discussing technical arrangements for safe passage through Hormuz and other confidence‑building steps, yet any return to strikes by either side could quickly undo the pause and draw the region back toward a wider conflagration. (apnews.com)
Original Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-will-halt-attacks-long-us-maintains-pause-iranian-source-says-after-trump-2026-07-26/
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Publish Date: 2026-07-26 23:37:00
