Iran Pledges to Halt Strikes If US Maintains Pause
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- Iran will halt attacks as long as the US maintains its pause, a senior Iranian source told Reuters — but expressed skepticism, calling the pause "tactical rather than genuine" and warning of a "broad response" if attacked again.
- President Trump abruptly suspended his two-week bombing campaign on Friday after 13 consecutive nights of air strikes; US Ambassador Mike Waltz told Fox News Trump paused to "give talks some space."
- Pentagon Chief of Staff Dan Caine and Vice President JD Vance raised concerns that US missile defense stocks were running low, per the New York Times and CNN, prompting Trump to reject further escalation plans.
- Houthi allies of Iran announced a Red Sea blockade on Saudi oil that pushed Brent crude above $100 for the first time since May, while Iran itself struck water desalination plants relied on by Gulf Arab states.
Why it matters: The bilateral pause leaves Iran's proxy war untouched — the Houthi Red Sea blockade pushed Brent above $100 — and Iran's own source calls the halt "tactical rather than genuine." US advisers cited missile defense stocks running low as the reason for backing off escalation plans, exposing a logistical ceiling on the US position.
