Iran Halts Attacks if US Maintains Pause, Source Says

Iran will halt its own military attacks as long as the United States maintains its latest pause on air strikes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday. According to the senior Iranian source, Tehran’s position remains attack for attack, meaning that if the U.S. air strikes stop, Iran will also halt its operations, and that message has already been conveyed to the United States.

The diplomatic shift follows 13 nights of intensifying U.S. air strikes on Iran, a campaign the Pentagon abruptly suspended late on Friday. No U.S. attacks were reported on either Saturday or Sunday. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News on Sunday that President Donald Trump decided to pause the attacks to allow more time for diplomacy, stating that Trump is giving talks some space and room.

Diplomatic Tensions and Tactical Pauses

Despite the halt in fighting, Tehran remains deeply skeptical about Washington’s true intentions. According to the senior Iranian source speaking to Reuters, Iran has more skepticism than optimism regarding the pause in attacks, viewing the suspension as tactical rather than genuine due to accumulated bitter experience with U.S. deception. The source also noted that Iran remains fully prepared to mount a broad response should the U.S. launch another attack.

Offering the administration’s perspective, a senior official in Trump’s administration stated on Saturday that the president has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, while also demonstrating to Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way. The two-week U.S. military campaign had effectively torpedoed an interim agreement from last month aimed at ending the war launched by the United States and Israel in February.

Logistical Concerns and Regional Escalation

The New York Times and CNN both reported that Trump backed off plans to escalate the war with even bigger military options after advisers raised concerns on Friday. According to CNN and the Times, Pentagon Chief of Staff Dan Caine raised concerns over whether U.S. missile defense stocks were running low from protecting regional bases, while CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance also expressed reservations.

Axios reported that Trump had received plans for strikes on Iran from the Pentagon every afternoon for two weeks and signed off on them each night, until Friday when he decided not to go ahead with the latest plan. Prior to the pause, U.S. forces struck bridges and tunnels in southern Iran, which prompted retaliatory Iranian strikes on water desalination plants relied upon by Gulf Arab states.

Red Sea Blockade and Oil Prices

The wider regional conflict has severely impacted energy shipping routes. Over the past week, Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen announced a blockade on Saudi oil in the Red Sea, potentially shutting a second major energy chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, the Houthis fired on Saudi Red Sea oil targets for the first time in years. The mounting disruptions pushed the benchmark Brent crude price above $100 for the first time since May.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the United States pause its air strikes on Iran?

According to U.S. Media reports from The New York Times and CNN also noted that advisers, including Pentagon Chief of Staff Dan Caine, raised concerns that U.S. missile defense stocks were running low.

What is Iran’s condition for halting its own attacks?

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran’s position is attack for attack. As long as the United States maintains its pause on air strikes, Iran will halt its own operations.

How have regional energy routes been affected?

Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen announced a blockade on Saudi oil in the Red Sea and fired on Saudi Red Sea oil targets, threatening a second major energy chokepoint and pushing Brent crude prices above $100.