TEHRAN — Iran officially announced a halt to its retaliatory attacks against US allies in the Middle East on Sunday, citing a two-night pause in American airstrikes on its territory. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia stated that since Tehran’s military strategy has been fundamentally retaliatory, operations were suspended in direct response to Washington pausing its consecutive nightly bombardments. The unexpected lull has revived fractured hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough to end a war now nearing its fifth month. However, international reports suggest the US pause may be less about diplomacy and more about systemic pressure on dwindling Pentagon stockpiles, particularly concerning Patriot interceptors and other critical defensive munitions.
While US President Donald Trump publicly threatened a “much higher level” of strikes on Friday, internal friction has mounted within the White House. Vice President JD Vance and top US General Dan Caine reportedly raised severe alarms over a wider regional escalation that could estrange Gulf allies and shock the global economy. Concurrently, the conflict has fractured onto a new front, with Yemeni Houthi rebels claiming drone and missile strikes against Saudi Aramco facilities, prompting a defensive response from a Greek-operated missile battery in Saudi Arabia. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has denied responsibility for the Houthi escalation, offering instead to broker talks with Riyadh. Despite the temporary pause in airstrikes, underlying tensions remain critical as Iran continues its effective blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, stopping six transit vessels within the last 24 hours
