- Washington gives diplomacy a chance; Iran halts retaliatory attacks; door opens for nuclear talks amid renewed diplomacy
- Temporary suspension of strikes intended to create additional space for diplomacy and provide Iran with a limited opportunity to negotiate — U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz
- Trump reviewed a new military strike plan last Friday but declined to authorize further attacks, instructing the Pentagon to pause operations while diplomatic efforts continue — Axios
A fragile calm held between the United States and Iran for a second consecutive day as the Trump administration balanced renewed diplomatic efforts with continued military pressure, pausing airstrikes while warning that force remains an option if negotiations fail.
President Donald Trump temporarily halted plans to expand the U.S. military campaign, suspending airstrikes on Friday to allow diplomacy and Omani mediation efforts aimed at easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The pause came without a formal ceasefire or agreement guaranteeing continued calm, leaving the situation highly uncertain.
According to officials, Washington has presented Tehran with a choice between reaching a negotiated agreement or facing a renewed and more extensive military campaign.
The diplomatic pause coincides with responses from both the United States and Iran to a mediation proposal backed by Pakistan and Qatar to revive negotiations.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said President Trump continues to favor a diplomatic solution but remains prepared to use military force if Iran resumes hostile actions in the Strait of Hormuz or targets U.S. allies.
“The president has always been consistent in seeking diplomacy,” Cheung said, adding that Tehran understands the consequences of rejecting negotiations after nearly two weeks of sustained U.S. military operations.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the temporary suspension of strikes was intended to create additional space for diplomacy and provide Iran with a limited opportunity to negotiate.
According to Axios, Trump reviewed a new military strike plan on Friday but declined to authorize further attacks, instructing the Pentagon to pause operations while diplomatic efforts continue.
However, U.S. defense officials have reportedly kept contingency plans ready should military operations resume.
The New York Times reported that potential targets under consideration included Iranian coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile platforms, and other military assets linked to operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
Naval Blockade Remains
Despite the halt in air operations, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its naval blockade remains in place. The command said its forces diverted 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled two vessels that ignored instructions, and boarded two others for inspections.
Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that a sea mine exploded near an oil tanker after it departed from Iran’s designated shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian military spokesman Mohammad Akrami Nia said U.S. airstrikes had stopped over the past two nights and confirmed that Iran had also suspended its retaliatory operations, saying Tehran’s strategy is based on responding proportionately.
However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters there remains “more skepticism than optimism” over the pause, describing it as a tactical move rather than a lasting de-escalation.
Oman Mediation Advances
The military pause coincided with two days of Iranian-Omani talks in Tehran focused on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to officials cited by CBS News, the discussions made significant progress. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said both sides held several rounds of talks on mechanisms to ensure safe maritime navigation while respecting the sovereignty of coastal states.
Although he described the talks as constructive, Baghaei said no changes have yet been made to navigation procedures in the strategic waterway.
The Omani delegation concluded its visit on Saturday, while technical and political consultations continue.
Iran Open to Negotiations
Regional diplomatic efforts also gained momentum, with a source telling Al Arabiya that Iran informed Pakistani officials it had not withdrawn from negotiations, but had only suspended them.
Tehran reportedly expressed its willingness to resume talks from where they stopped and said future negotiations could take place in Geneva, Doha, or Islamabad.
Iran also reiterated its opposition to establishing a new shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz and proposed that future negotiations focus first on maritime issues, followed by frozen Iranian assets and, ultimately, the nuclear file.
