President Donald Trump has suspended US military strikes on Iran for a second consecutive night to allow diplomatic efforts to continue, according to the US ambassador to the United Nations. Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Ambassador Mike Waltz said the president was "giving talks some space" and allowing negotiations "a little bit of room" before deciding on any further action. An Iranian army spokesperson also said on Sunday that Tehran had halted its "retaliatory" attacks in the region. Diplomatic Efforts ContinueThe pause comes after nearly two weeks of daily US airstrikes and reciprocal Iranian attacks, which effectively ended the ceasefire agreed in June. Asked by NBC whether the suspension of strikes signalled a decision against further escalation, Waltz said: "I wouldn't go that far at all. The president is keeping all options on the table." He also dismissed a New York Times report suggesting US officials had warned that an expanded conflict could significantly reduce the country's stockpile of air defence munitions. "The US military... has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be," Waltz said. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman held several rounds of technical discussions in Tehran on Friday and Saturday on managing the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei. Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Sticking PointControl of the Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran and remains a major obstacle to securing a lasting end to the conflict. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June to halt military operations, reopen the strategic waterway and work towards a broader agreement to end the war within 60 days. However, the agreement collapsed after Iranian forces attacked tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on 13 July. In response, the US resumed airstrikes and reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran retaliated with attacks on US military facilities across the Middle East, killing four American soldiers. According to Iran's health ministry, subsequent US strikes have killed dozens of people. International Concern GrowsUK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he would meet US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth this week to discuss security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil, liquefied natural gas and other vital commodities. "When it comes to securing maritime freedom and free commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, that's where we are absolutely aligned," Streeting told the BBC. Oil prices earlier this week rose to $100 a barrel for the first time since May, reflecting growing concerns over global energy supplies as fighting continues. As the conflict approaches its fifth month, public support in the United States remains limited. A new CBS/YouGov poll found that 57% of Americans are frustrated by the war, while only 19% said they were optimistic about the situation. Official figures indicate that thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February, with most of the casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon. President Trump is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Join the discussion? 27 July 2026
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