The United States has paused a new round of attacks on Iran after the military concluded the operation had reached its "maximum effective" point, according to International Business Times. President Donald Trump has also halted fresh strikes in an effort to open room for diplomatic talks on a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The report said the broader geopolitical tension in the Middle East has shown signs of easing. Since last Friday, the US has not launched new military attacks on Iran, while Iran has shown relative restraint by suspending military action against other Gulf countries. The shift was tied to strategic assessments by senior US military officials as well as diplomatic considerations.
US military says strikes hit their "maximum effective" point
Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said nearly two weeks of intensive strikes had significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz. At this stage, he said, the operation had reached its "maximum effective" point.
Cooper recommended that Washington stop bombing Iranian military assets near the waterway, and the report said that recommendation played a key role in Trump’s decision to pause further attacks.
The report also said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine warned that US stocks of interceptor missiles were gradually declining, a trend that could affect the broader defensive capacity of the US and its allies going forward.
Washington says the pause is meant to create space for diplomacy
Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, publicly described the pause as an effort to "give diplomacy some space." He said Trump, whom he referred to as a "peace president," had tried diplomatic channels both last year and this year and was now giving negotiations a chance.
According to CBS News, talks between Iranian officials and Oman have made substantive progress, with both sides moving toward a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
US and UK prepare talks on a maritime escort coalition
At the same time, the US and the UK are preparing for a high-level meeting in London to discuss the formation of an international coalition aimed at securing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Defense Secretary Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine could attend the meeting, according to the report. Washington is also seeking to build on recent discussions involving the UK and France. Some countries, however, have indicated they would only formally join such a coalition after fighting in the waterway has fully stopped.
The report said whether Trump keeps the military pause in place to support diplomacy, or resumes attacks if conditions shift, remains a key variable being closely watched by global macro markets.