The United States has paused its attacks Iran on Sunday for the second straight day, and Tehran said it did so as it continued efforts to bring the countries back to negotiating a deal interim ceasefire agreement largely undermined by the recent shootings.
It wasn’t clear why the US took a break after targeting Iranian coastal areas and infrastructure in a nearly two-week escalation sparked by Iranian firing on ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions Sunday.
“President (Donald) Trump has always made it clear that he prefers a diplomatic solution, but he continues to reserve all options if Iran continues its terrorist activities in the Strait of Hormuz or against allies,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said, adding: “It would be wise for Iran to work toward a negotiated agreement. Otherwise, they know what will happen.”
Since the US has stopped its attacks over the last two nights, Iran has also done so, an army spokesman said on Iranian state television on Sunday. Tehran has launched counterattacks in recent days against countries in the region where US forces are stationed. kill at least three at a base in Jordan.
A regional official calls the break a “positive signal”
The 60-day period, which began when both countries signed the interim agreement in mid-June, is now well into the second half and there are important issues that should be negotiated – especially Iran’s nuclear program They are at the center of the tensions and remain aside as mediators try to keep both sides talking.
A regional official involved in the mediation effort said diplomacy was ongoing and a pause in U.S. and Iranian attacks would be a “positive signal that helps their de-escalation efforts.”
The official said both countries wanted to return the interim ceasefire agreement and that a negotiated compromise focuses on Iran regulating shipping transit through the United States Strait of Hormuz with fewer restrictions on ships. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
There continued to be concerns about shipping on the strait and now on another important waterway in the region, the Bab al-Mandeb Street to the red sea. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to block Saudi shipping there last week.
Global energy supplies and the economy remain in limbo Gasoline prices have risen again.
Iran said on Sunday it was continuing to negotiate with Oman over the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between the two countries. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said talks had made progress and were continuing.
Baghaei also said the status of the strait remained unchanged. Tehran has maintained that the interim deal with the U.S. allows it to manage shipping in the waterway for now and has opposed U.S. efforts to support a route through the strait that instead passes close to Oman.
The US military said it on Saturday recently reimposed naval blockade Attacks against Iran continued, with a dozen merchant ships diverted, two disabled and two boarded. U.S. forces “remain highly alert, focused, lethal and ready,” it said.
Netanyahu says he “fully supports” Trump’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to travel to the United States on Tuesday and meet with Trump in Washington, his office said. They last met in Washington in February, weeks before them started the war in Iran that killed senior leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran-backed Hezbollah fired on Israel two days after the war began, and Israel responded with air strikes and ground troops in southern Lebanon. Since then, the US has supported landmark direct talks between Lebanon and Israel to try to calm that front and find a way to disarm Hezbollah.
Netanyahu said this on Sunday fox News He “fully” supports Trump’s efforts to weaken Iran and pressure it to end its nuclear program, adding: “If he can do that without returning to intense military fighting, that’s fine. Why not?”
The prime minister indicated he would not present any new information to “our good friend” Trump and would instead focus on “what he has in mind because I think in many ways it is his decision.”
But Netanyahu warned that Iran “will make a terrible mistake if it attacks Israel again directly or through armed proxies.”