Overview
- Facing an 8 p.m. Tuesday deadline he set, President Trump said he would pause planned bombing for two weeks if Iran allowed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran said ships can pass for the same two-week window under coordination with its armed forces and confirmed U.S.–Iran talks in Islamabad beginning Friday after Pakistan’s invitation.
- The White House said the pause shows U.S. pressure worked and that negotiations continue, while Iran warned the ceasefire does not end the war and any misstep will draw a forceful response.
- Critics and commentators revived the “TACO” label—short for “Trump Always Chickens Out”—as social media and cable news highlighted a pattern of maximalist threats followed by retreats.
- The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil, so even short disruptions or tight controls can lift fuel prices, delay shipments, and unsettle governments trying to contain the conflict.