US and Iran hit pause on strikes for second day

The United States and Iran have pressed pause for a second day on what had been an escalating conflict. Reports on Sunday said neither the US nor Iran had launched strikes for a second day in a row. The sudden period of calm after two weeks of nightly attacks on Iran by the US, and Iranian retaliation on US allies in the Gulf comes amid hopes of a return to diplomacy.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News on Sunday that President Donald Trump was 'giving [the potential for] talks ... a little bit of room'. US broadcaster CBS, quoting two regional sources, reported that the US decision to pause the bombing was made due to the arrival of an Omani delegation in Tehran.

The New York Times reported that Trump paused plans to escalate attacks due to concerns about draining the Pentagon's diminishing stockpile of missile interceptors and other air defence munitions in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, set to meet with Trump during a visit to the US on Tuesday, warned during a television interview with Fox News on Sunday that a resumption of attacks on Israel by Iran or its regional allies would be a 'terrible mistake' and would elicit a 'very, very forceful response'.

Regarding the Omani delegation, Baghaei said the talks about managing traffic in the Strait of Hormuz were 'useful, and progress was made'.

Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told state television on Sunday: "Our strategy has essentially been retaliatory. We have also halted our retaliatory operations," according to the AFP news agency.

Our strategy has essentially been retaliatory. We have also halted our retaliatory operations.