Iran announced Sunday that it has stopped its retaliatory military operations in the region after the United States refrained from striking the country for two consecutive nights, even as diplomatic talks over the Strait of Hormuz continued and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared for a visit to Washington.
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran’s retaliatory campaign had been designed specifically as a response to American strikes, and that it ceased once those strikes did. He noted that the exchanges had gone on until two nights ago, but that US attacks have since paused, and said Iran’s response was directly tied to that pattern.
Still, Akraminia cautioned that a wider war remains possible if Washington resumes military action, particularly air raids. He said any renewed American strikes, especially if Iran comes to believe the US is being misled by Israel, would push the conflict into new territory geographically.
Akraminia said the fighting has already spread to the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the mouth of the Red Sea, citing recent clashes involving Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia. He said Iranian operations now extend across a wide swath of the region, including US bases in Jordan and Gulf states. He called the American position in the Middle East “difficult and unsettled” and said Iran was ready for a range of possible outcomes.
The comments came just ahead of Netanyahu’s planned meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, which Israel confirmed in an announcement Friday.
Progress Reported on Hormuz Talks
Iran also said it has made headway in negotiations with Oman over managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil and gas shipments bordering both countries. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said deputy foreign ministers from Iran and Oman met in Tehran on Friday and Saturday to discuss shared principles and practical mechanisms for keeping shipping lanes secure while respecting each country’s sovereignty.
Baqaei described the talks as useful and said technical and political consultations were ongoing, adding that shipping traffic through the strait had not been disrupted. Iranian state television reported Sunday that the armed forces had stopped six vessels attempting to pass through the strait after issuing warnings over the previous 24 hours.
Trump Weighing Next Steps
Trump has not yet decided whether to resume a broader military campaign against Iran, saying talks with Tehran are “getting more and more serious.” CNN, citing an unnamed Pentagon source, reported that US operations against Iran were currently on hold. Axios reported separately that Trump chose not to authorize a 14th consecutive night of strikes, opting instead to give renewed diplomacy a chance.
That decision reportedly came after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran to discuss a new arrangement for the Hormuz waterway. Trump said Iran now faces a choice between striking a deal or facing attacks at a far greater intensity. The New York Times reported that further escalation plans were delayed in part over concerns about depleting US military stockpiles, while CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine raised concerns about the risks of escalation during a Friday meeting at the White House.
Signs of a Widening Conflict
The confrontation has shown signs of expanding beyond Washington and Tehran. Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they struck Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday, a day after Saudi forces hit Houthi positions. A Greek-operated air defense battery stationed in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles and a drone over Yanbu, according to Greece’s air force media office.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran should not be blamed for that escalation and offered to help broker talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, arguing that “there is no military solution” to the standoff.
