President Donald Trump paused attacks on Iran to create room for negotiations, according to the US ambassador, as both sides appeared to step back from military action. The reported pause came after nearly two weeks of back-and-forth strikes that had raised concern that any diplomatic effort could be pushed off course.
Neither the United States nor Iran launched attacks over the last two nights, a break that suggests both sides may be trying to prevent further escalation. The lull is significant because the recent exchanges had threatened talks aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war.
The latest developments point to a fragile moment in which military restraint and diplomacy are moving side by side. While the situation remains tense, the absence of new strikes has given negotiators a chance to keep discussions alive rather than see them overtaken by events on the battlefield.
In the UK, new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he would meet US counterpart Pete Hegseth in the coming week to discuss the strait, a vital route for global oil transport. That planned meeting underlines how the conflict is being watched not only as a military and political crisis, but also as a risk to energy flows and wider regional stability.
