US strikes 'on a hold,' as talks, battle for Strait of Hormuz control loom with Iran

U.S. strikes have relented for the first time in two weeks as peace negotiations and talks involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz resume, but President Donald Trump's Cabinet remains 'locked and loaded' for a resumption of hostilities if Iran balks at surrendering its nuclear weapons aspirations.

President Donald Trump is giving Iran talks 'some space,' U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told 'Fox News Sunday.' 'He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room,' Waltz said.

President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping against helping Iran target American forces in the Middle East, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday. 'The president,' Waltz told Sunday's 'Face the Nation' on CBS, 'has put both on notice, frankly, that they should not be assisting and that bad things will happen if they are.'

Ending the U.S. campaign against Iran now would be a 'huge mistake,' according to Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who urged the Trump administration to maintain pressure on Tehran while avoiding the deployment of American ground troops. 'We need to stay the course, at least for a few more months,' Kennedy told CBS's 'Face the Nation,' arguing that Washington should not 'cut and run' despite rising energy costs.

Democrats are trying to limit President Donald Trump's ability to confront Iran, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., warned Sunday. 'The president is going to continue to negotiate from a position of strength,' Barrasso told 'The Sunday Briefing.'

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lowering energy prices would not justify allowing Iran to retain a path to nuclear weapons, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, warned Sunday. 'The foolish trade is to say, well, we'll have the straits open, we will have lower gas prices, but we'll have a nuclear Iran,' Turner told ABC's 'This Week.'

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy says Congress must soon weigh in on Iran war... 'We're not going to abandon our men and women on the front line,' Cassidy told Sunday's CNN 'State of the Union,' warning against allowing Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz or rebuild its conventional and nuclear capabilities.

National average diesel prices have climbed from about $3.56 per gallon in January to more than $5 per gallon, adding significant costs for trucking companies, farmers and businesses that rely on the fuel.