- Iran stated it will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on air strikes, per a senior Iranian official.
- U.S. forces struck bridges and tunnels in southern Iran, prompting Iran to strike water desalination plants that nearby Gulf Arab states rely on.
- Iran's Houthi allies announced a blockade on Saudi oil in the Red Sea, pushing Brent crude above $100.
- President Trump decided to pause U.S. air strikes after two weeks.
- A senior Iranian source expressed skepticism about the halt, viewing the pause as tactical rather than genuine.
- Axios reported that Trump had been signing off on strike plans nightly until Friday when he decided not to proceed.
A senior Iranian official announced that Iran will halt its attacks if the U.S. maintains its pause on air strikes, a decision made by President Trump after two weeks of escalating military action. The official conveyed that Iran's stance is based on a principle of ‘attack for attack’: if U.S. strikes cease, so will Iran's operations.14
The Pentagon suspended its air campaign late Friday, with no attacks reported over the weekend. This pause is seen as an opportunity for diplomacy, according to U.S. ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, who stated, “He’s giving talks some space, he’s giving it a little bit of room.” However, the Iranian source expressed skepticism about the U.S. intentions, stating, “There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks.” They believe the pause is tactical rather than a genuine shift in U.S. policy, citing past experiences with U.S. deception.
Reports indicate that Trump had been receiving military strike plans daily from the Pentagon but decided against further escalation after concerns were raised about U.S. missile defense capabilities. The New York Times and CNN noted that advisers, including Pentagon Chief of Staff Dan Caine and Vice President JD Vance, expressed reservations about continuing military action.
In the backdrop, Iran's Houthi allies have escalated tensions by blockading Saudi oil shipments, pushing Brent crude prices above $100, highlighting the broader implications of the ongoing conflict.3
“Per the senior Iranian source, Iran conveyed its 'attack for attack' stance to the US, stating that if strikes stop, Iran will halt operations. The source also expressed skepticism, saying the pause appears tactical rather than genuine, as Tehran has had bitter experiences with US deception.”
