The Pentagon paused its air campaign against Iran after 13 consecutive nights of strikes, and Tehran says it will stop its own attacks for as long as the halt holds. Omani diplomats have opened a channel in Tehran, yet the U.S. naval blockade stays fully operational and the fighting has spread to the Red Sea and the Caspian.
President Donald Trump unexpectedly paused a bombing campaign that had lasted nearly two weeks, and Iran will reportedly stop its attacks as long as the United States keeps that pause in place. The Pentagon halted the operation late on Friday, and no U.S. attacks have been reported since — the first two-day break in the campaign.
Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official, that Tehran's position remains attack for attack: if the strikes stop, Iran halts its operations too, and that message has already been conveyed to the United States. Iran also refrained from attacking neighbouring countries on Saturday, creating a temporary lull in Gulf fighting.
Oman opens a channel in Tehran
Omani officials traveled to Tehran around July 24-25 to open a channel focused on navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz and broader de-escalation between Washington and Tehran, according to Crypto Briefing. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that diplomatic discussions were underway.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News on Sunday that Trump is giving negotiations room to progress. Crypto Briefing reported that Waltz put the rationale as allowing "talks some space".
Trump has reportedly stepped back from plans to intensify the campaign amid concerns about widening the conflict, draining U.S. defence stockpiles, alienating Gulf allies and disrupting global energy supplies. But the U.S. military said its naval blockade of Iran remained fully operational, and it did not explain the pause in airstrikes.
Houthi strikes push the war into the Red Sea
Tensions shifted towards the Red Sea after Iran-aligned Houthi forces attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu. Video footage showed smoke rising near the Jizan refinery, which can process up to 400,000 barrels daily. Greek forces operating a U.S.-made Patriot system intercepted two missiles targeting Yanbu.
Yanbu has become a key export route for Saudi oil, avoiding the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes through that narrow waterway every day. A sustained Houthi campaign could now threaten a second major energy and commercial shipping corridor.
Yemen and the Caspian open further fronts
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces responded by striking Houthi launch sites and weapons depots in Marib and al-Jawf. Both sides were reportedly mobilising troops, raising fears that Yemen's civil war could resume after a ceasefire dating from 2022. The Houthis have declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and previously attacked two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea.
Another front emerged in the Caspian Sea, where Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel. An explosion killed one sailor and injured another.
Washington and Tehran remain in talks, though Trump said Iran was not yet ready for an agreement. The blockade and the threats against Red Sea energy infrastructure leave global oil supplies exposed despite the temporary pause in direct attacks.
Sources: Investing.com — Economy News, Crypto Briefing
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