US and Iran Pause Strikes for Second Day as Talks Advance
The United States paused military strikes on Iran for a second consecutive day on Sunday, July 26, with Tehran reciprocating, as diplomatic negotiations mediated by Oman continued over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The mutual halt follows nearly two weeks of intense exchanges of fire that effectively unraveled a 60-day interim ceasefire signed in mid-June, according to AP News.
Why the Pause Happened
The decision to halt strikes came after top US military officials advised President Donald Trump that the bombing campaign had reached the limits of its effectiveness and that critical munitions stockpiles — including Patriot missile interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles — were running low. Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine and Admiral Brad Cooper, the top US commander in the Middle East, delivered the assessment at an Oval Office meeting on Friday, July 24, according to The Guardian. Vice President JD Vance also warned Trump about the risks of renewing the military campaign.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told Fox News on Sunday that Trump was “giving talks some space” while keeping “all options on the table.” Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Waltz pushed back against suggestions the pause signaled a broader de-escalation, though he acknowledged the administration was pursuing a diplomatic track, as BBC News reported.
Iran’s Response
Iranian Army Spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia confirmed on state TV that Tehran had halted its retaliatory operations, stating: “These [US] attacks continued until two nights ago, but over the past two nights the Americans have stopped their attacks. Our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, told reporters that mediators were working to prevent further escalation, adding that talks with Oman about managing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz had made progress. An anonymous regional official involved in the mediation called the mutual pause a “positive signal” for de-escalation efforts, AP News reported.
Diplomatic Landscape
Oman has been mediating discussions between Washington and Tehran over governance of the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes. Iran’s blockade of the strait earlier this year triggered one of the largest oil supply disruptions in history, driving prices to $100 per barrel for the first time since May and pushing up gasoline prices, according to BBC News. The UK and US are also discussing plans for a high-level meeting in London to coordinate coalition protection of commercial shipping in the strait.
The 60-day interim ceasefire — a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17 — remains in its second half, but major issues including Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities remain unaddressed. The US has also maintained its recently reimposed naval blockade against Iran, which has redirected 12 commercial ships, disabled two, and boarded two, the US military confirmed to AP News.
Netanyahu’s Upcoming Visit
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday, July 28. In interviews on Sunday, Netanyahu said he “fully” backs Trump’s diplomatic efforts but warned that if Iran again attacks Israel, “it will make a terrible mistake.” The visit comes as Netanyahu faces domestic pressure ahead of Israel’s October 2026 elections and amid ongoing violence in the West Bank.
Broader Regional Context
The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, after US-Israeli airstrikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has drawn in multiple regional actors. Houthi rebels in Yemen have threatened Saudi shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, expanding the crisis beyond the Persian Gulf, according to AP News. Hezbollah and Israel have resumed fighting in Lebanon, and Iran has attacked Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, with those nations retaliating.
The war has proven deeply unpopular in the United States. A CBS/YouGov poll published Sunday found that 57% of Americans are frustrated about the conflict and only 19% remain optimistic, as BBC News reported. The cost of the war to the US has been estimated at $113.3 billion as of June 2026, according to Wikipedia, and the Pentagon has requested $1.5 trillion for the next fiscal year.
What to Watch
The mutual pause creates a fragile diplomatic window, but significant hurdles remain. Netanyahu’s visit to Washington on Tuesday represents a critical inflection point — Israel has been a key party in the conflict and its position could shape whether the pause holds or collapses. Meanwhile, questions about US munitions stockpiles may limit Washington’s escalation options if diplomacy fails, as The Guardian reported. Whether mediators can translate the pause into a durable arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz — and eventually address Iran’s nuclear program — remains the central uncertainty in a conflict that has reshaped the Middle East and global energy markets.