The United States and Iran have halted military strikes against each other for a second consecutive day, marking a significant de-escalation after 13 nights of intense American air operations and triggering sharp declines in global crude oil prices.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News Sunday that President Donald Trump was allowing negotiations with Tehran to progress, stating: “The President is giving talks some space. We remain locked and loaded, but he’s going to give negotiations a little bit of room.”
According to US sources, military operations are currently on hold while regional allies have reported no fresh Iranian attacks during the pause. Iran’s army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia confirmed the halt, saying: “These attacks continued until two nights ago, but over the past two nights the Americans have stopped their attacks. Since our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.”
The temporary ceasefire eased investor anxiety over potential disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints. International benchmark Brent crude fell nearly 6 percent to around $91 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate dropped almost 6 percent to approximately $84 per barrel.
The escalation that preceded this pause represents the most intensive phase of the US-Iran conflict since tensions heightened earlier in 2026. The 13-night campaign of American strikes reflects the scale of air operations required to project power across the Gulf region, underscoring the critical importance of air superiority and sustained flight operations in modern great-power competition.
From an air power perspective, such prolonged strike campaigns demand advanced logistics, air defence suppression capabilities, and precision targeting systems that the US military maintains through its network of bases across the Middle East and its carrier strike group deployments. The willingness to conduct strikes over consecutive nights also indicates confidence in electronic warfare capabilities and air defence countermeasures required to operate in contested airspace.
Trump indicated that discussions with Iran were intensifying but did not rule out resumption of military action. “We’re talking to them right now. I think they’re getting more and more serious,” Trump told reporters on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expected at the White House this week, reiterated support for diplomatic efforts while insisting that Iran’s nuclear programme must ultimately be dismantled.
Both Washington and Tehran have maintained that military options remain available should negotiations fail, suggesting the pause is tactical rather than a strategic cessation of conflict. The preservation of strike readiness by both sides indicates military planning continues in parallel with diplomatic channels, a posture typical of high-stakes negotiations between nuclear-threshold adversaries.