Three-Day Pause In Strikes Sparks Diplomatic Push: The United States and Iran have now gone three consecutive days without reported attacks as regional mediators reportedly intensify efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and the Islamic regime to prevent another major escalation in the Middle East.
The pause follows almost two weeks of nightly strikes by U.S. forces against Iranian military infrastructure and a series of retaliatory attacks by Tehran and its regional allies.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Melanie “Mach” Kluesner, the pilot for the F-35A Demonstration Team, performs aerial maneuvers in a USAF F-35A Lightning II during the practice day before the airshow at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Florida, on 18 October, 2024. The practice day ensures that the team is able to safely and properly display the power, agility, and lethality of America’s 5th generation fighter jet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Rupiper)
On July 27, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington had halted its bombing campaign after Iran asked to meet, but Tehran has publicly denied that negotiations were underway.
Trump Claims Iran Asked for a Pause
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Michigan on Monday, President Trump claimed that Iranian representatives had asked the United States to stop its attacks and allow negotiations to restart.
“They asked us very nicely, ‘Please stop, let’s meet,’” Trump said. “And that’s where we are right now, see what happens. If we don’t make a deal, we go back to the same thing.”
The president said that the United States was engaged in discussions with Iran and claimed that the regime had only sought new talks because of the damage inflicted by the most recent round of attacks.
“They would not have requested the meeting if we were doing poorly,” Trump said. “The only reason they want to meet is because we’ve been hitting them very hard.”
In separate comments reported on Monday by Axios, the president also said that the United States is in “very deep talks” with Iran but warned that the regime was running out of time to reach an agreement.
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft flies during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 28, 2025. The F-35 is designed to provide the pilot with unsurpassed situational awareness, positive target identification and precision strike in all weather conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)
A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II taxis during a cross-servicing event at NATO Allied Air Command’s Ramstein Flag 2025 exercise April 4, 2025. Successful cross-servicing at RAFL25 is an example of the importance of integrated logistics and maintenance training that enhances U.S. warfighting readiness by strengthening United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa’s ability to deploy, sustain, and project fifth-generation capabilities across the European theater. (Royal Netherlands photo by Sgt. Maj. Jan Dijkstra)
“Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all,” he said.
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz made similar claims the day before, telling Fox News on Sunday that Trump was attempting to give the talks “some space” but withholding further attacks.
Tehran Denies Claims
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei disputed Washington’s claims during a televised press conference on Monday, claiming that messages are being exchanged but that there are no ongoing negotiations.
“Mediators may convey messages to us from the American side regarding ongoing developments in the region. But at present, we have no negotiations with the American side,” Baghaei said.
Baghaei also said that Iran would not permit the United States to determine the timing of the negotiations or the end of the war, potentially referencing the U.S. president’s suggestion that negotiations must move fast. The Iranian official also confirmed that the three-day pause does not constitute a ceasefire between the two sides.
Baghaei also said that Iranian and Omani officials held discussions on Friday and Saturday over potential future arrangements to govern commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
“The objective is for Iran and Oman, as the two coastal states, to develop mechanisms to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights and sovereignty of both coastal states, as well as Iran’s security and national interests,” Baghaei said, before also insisting that the waterway is still closed.
Mediators Allegedly Make Progress
Speaking to the Associated Press on Monday, two regional officials claimed that mediators had made progress in their efforts to restore the interim ceasefire agreement that was reached in mid-June, with one source describing the progress as “significant.”
Qatar and Pakistan have led the efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides, while Oman also launched its own diplomatic efforts on Monday.
A statement issued by Oman’s Foreign Ministry described how Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi held calls with his counterparts from Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iran as part of an effort to reduce tensions. The ministry said that discussions focused on finding a political solution to end the conflict and ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement also said that participants discussed pursuing “practical, fair and sustainable understandings” through the appropriate diplomatic channels.
Regional Tensions Continue Despite Pause
The new diplomatic push also comes as fighting continues in the region, with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry confirming Monday that it had intercepted several drones targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh region that were launched by Iran-backed militias operating from Iraq.
It comes as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait faces continued disruption following Yemen’s Houthis’ announcement of a naval blockade against Saudi-linked ships.
Markets nevertheless responded positively to the three-day lull, with Brent crude falling 6.7% on Monday to around $90 per barrel. Commercial shipping, however, is still severely disrupted, with fewer than 10 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz each day over the weekend and just 11 commodity vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb on Sunday – well below the roughly 100 to 130 and 25 to 30 daily transits those waterways would typically handle.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
