WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has paused military strikes against Iran to allow space for diplomatic efforts, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations said on Sunday, as both sides signaled a temporary halt in hostilities.
“He’s giving talks some space, he’s giving it a little bit of room,” US Ambassador Mike Waltz told Fox News, without providing further details on the diplomatic contacts.
The comments came after a weekend lull in fighting between the United States and Iran. The Pentagon suspended its bombing campaign after 13 consecutive nights of strikes, while there were no reports over the weekend of Iranian attacks against neighboring countries.
A senior Trump administration official said on Saturday that the president continued to favor a diplomatic resolution despite the recent military escalation.
“He has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way,” the official said.
