Trump pauses Iran strikes to allow diplomacy, US envoy says
Donald Trump, US president has paused US military strikes on Iran for a second consecutive night to give diplomacy more time, according to Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the United Nations. Speaking in separate television interviews, Waltz said the president was “giving talks some space” while stressing that Washington had not ruled out further military action if negotiations fail. “The president is keeping all options on the table,” he said.
The pause comes after nearly two weeks of daily US airstrikes and Iranian retaliatory attacks that effectively collapsed the ceasefire reached in June. Iran also signalled a temporary easing of tensions, with an army spokesperson saying Tehran had halted retaliatory attacks in the region. Waltz dismissed reports that the US was slowing its campaign because of dwindling air defence stockpiles, insisting the military had sufficient resources to continue operations if necessary. Meanwhile, Iranian and Omani officials held technical talks in Tehran on managing security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route, raising cautious hopes that diplomatic efforts could prevent a broader regional conflict.
