Iran halts retaliatory strikes as US gives diplomacy 'more room'

Iran and the United States have paused their attacks, offering Gulf shipping and global oil markets a respite after weeks of escalating strikes around the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran said on Monday it had halted retaliatory operations against Washington’s regional allies, while US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump was allowing diplomacy “a little bit of room”.

US forces nevertheless remained “locked and loaded”, Waltz told Fox News, indicating that military action could resume if negotiations failed to make progress.

The pause follows a sharp escalation that disrupted earlier diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. Fighting around the Strait of Hormuz triggered a US air campaign and Iranian reprisals targeting shipping routes, Gulf states and military bases across the region.

Before the latest lull, the US military had struck Iran for 13 consecutive nights – the most intense period of fighting since a ceasefire in April. However, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights passed without further US bombing.

“Since our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations,” Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said.

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