Washington Halts Air Campaign as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify, While Maritime Blockade on Iran Remains in Place
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States has temporarily halted its air campaign against Iran after nearly two weeks of consecutive nightly strikes, signaling a potential opening for diplomacy even as Washington continues enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The military pause comes amid intensified diplomatic discussions involving Iran and Oman over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, while officials on both sides continue to project sharply different narratives about the conflict.
According to a U.S. defense source cited in the original release, military operations are currently “on a hold” after almost 14 consecutive days of airstrikes. The pause marks the first two-night break in the campaign since hostilities intensified.
The decision follows a White House meeting on Friday, where President Donald Trump met with senior national security officials to evaluate the next phase of the conflict. During the discussions, Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine reportedly expressed concerns about the risks associated with expanding military operations.
Gen. Caine also raised questions regarding the significant volume of American munitions that would be required for a broader campaign and warned of additional strategic consequences tied to further escalation.
Administration Signals Preference for Diplomacy While Maintaining Military Readiness
White House Says Negotiations Continue Across Multiple Levels
Despite suspending new airstrikes, the Trump administration maintains that military pressure remains an option should diplomatic efforts fail.
Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that President Trump is intentionally allowing negotiations to progress while preserving military flexibility.
Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Waltz said discussions are taking place across technical, diplomatic and senior political levels. During a separate appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” he noted that diplomatic engagement has accelerated over the past several days.
Waltz also reiterated Trump’s warning that American forces remain “locked and loaded” if negotiations collapse, adding that every military option remains available. He further argued that internal divisions within Iran’s leadership have complicated ongoing negotiations.
Questions Raised Over U.S. Weapons Stockpiles
During an interview with NBC host Kristen Welker, Waltz acknowledged that “a lot of stockpiles were depleted” when asked about U.S. weapons inventories.
He attributed those shortages to previous American military support for Ukraine and what he described as depleted reserves inherited by the current administration. Nevertheless, Waltz insisted the U.S. military retains sufficient capabilities to continue operations if necessary.
Iran Claims Strategic Success as Fighting Temporarily Subsides
Iranian officials have portrayed the pause in U.S. airstrikes as evidence that American strategy has stalled rather than as a diplomatic gesture.
Army spokesman Amir Akraminia told Iranian state television that Tehran sees no coherent American strategy, asserting that the United States is “experiencing strategic decision-making fatigue.”
Akraminia further claimed that the U.S.-led campaign failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or significantly weaken Iran’s defensive capabilities.
Iran also said the conflict has expanded beyond the Persian Gulf into the Red Sea, where Iran-backed Houthi forces have declared a blockade affecting Saudi shipping. Continued clashes involving Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces have added another layer of instability to the broader regional conflict.
Separately, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebi accused Israel of encouraging continued U.S. military involvement by providing misleading intelligence to President Trump.
Mohebi also claimed Iran had damaged numerous American military facilities across the region during the conflict. The United States has acknowledged damage at some facilities, including a strike in Jordan that killed three American service members. However, broader Iranian claims regarding U.S. military losses have not been independently verified.
U.S. Naval Blockade Remains Fully Enforced
Commercial Shipping Faces Continued Restrictions
While air operations have paused, the United States continues enforcing its maritime blockade against vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports.
The restrictions apply to all Iranian ports, including those located both inside and outside the Strait of Hormuz. The previous version of the blockade lasted approximately two months between April and June.
According to U.S. officials cited in the release, American forces have redirected at least twelve commercial vessels, disabled two ships that failed to comply with orders and boarded two additional vessels to verify compliance since the blockade resumed earlier this month.
One verification boarding involved the Comoros-flagged tanker M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea, which was later permitted to continue its voyage.
Meanwhile, deputy foreign ministers from Iran and Oman concluded two days of discussions in Tehran regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the talks as constructive but confirmed that they produced no immediate changes to maritime traffic through the strategically significant waterway.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Global Energy Security
The Strait of Hormuz continues to be one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, serving as the primary export route for crude oil from major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Its narrow geography limits ships’ ability to maneuver, increasing vulnerability during periods of military tension.
The press release notes that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ships of all nations retain the right of innocent passage through territorial waters, although coastal states may intervene under specific circumstances when passage is deemed non-innocent.
Saudi Nuclear Agreement Linked to Israel Normalization
Waltz also confirmed that implementation of the recently announced civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia remains contingent upon the kingdom establishing diplomatic relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.
He said negotiations continue while the framework of the agreement remains intact. Waltz added that Saudi Arabia chose to partner with the United States rather than Russia or China for civilian nuclear technology and emphasized that the agreement does not include uranium enrichment.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog separately confirmed discussions with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the Abraham Accords among the topics addressed.
Congress Debates War Authorization as Political Divisions Deepen
Lawmakers Signal Broader Debate Ahead
Growing divisions in Washington continue to shape debate over the conflict.
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Congress may soon need to vote on formal authorization if military operations continue.
Cassidy said President Trump should eventually present lawmakers and the American public with the facts surrounding the conflict if a swift resolution remains out of reach.
Meanwhile, Democrats have united in opposition to the military campaign, rejecting additional war funding and supporting measures aimed at limiting U.S. involvement.
The partisan divide represents a notable departure from previous wartime political dynamics, with Democratic lawmakers arguing that continued military engagement lacks sufficient public support and should receive greater congressional scrutiny.
