Overview
- Both Washington and Tehran have halted direct attacks to create space for indirect negotiations brokered mainly through Oman, with Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt also reported to be involved.
- President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of U.S. bombings to allow talks and warned the strikes will resume quickly if diplomacy fails.
- U.S. Central Command said it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched from Iran in an attempted surprise attack, demonstrating that the pause has not stopped high-risk incidents against American forces.
- Proxy and regional incidents continued during the pause, including drones shot down over Saudi targets and Houthi claims of strikes in the Red Sea, while Iran has asserted control over transit near the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting shipping.
- U.S. military leaders have flagged munitions pressure and operational limits, and visible policy differences with Israel—highlighted by Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit—leave the ceasefire fragile and raise the risk of a rapid return to large-scale strikes.