US halts Iran strikes for second night as Trump weighs next move
Photo: Oil tanker at sea (Getty Images)
The United States has gone a second consecutive night without launching strikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of attacks. The reason for the pause has not been officially explained, even as tensions in the region continue to escalate, according to Bloomberg.
According to the agency, the US military has not conducted any new operations since Friday evening. Iranian authorities and local media have also reported no new attacks.
The pause has now lasted for a second consecutive night following 13 days of nearly continuous US strikes on Iran.
Houthis open a new front in the escalation
While US strikes remain paused, Iran-backed Houthi militants claimed attacks on facilities linked to Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco in the Saudi cities of Jizan and Yanbu. Neither Riyadh nor the company has officially confirmed the claims.
After a brief alert was issued, Saudi authorities said the threat had passed. According to Yemen TV, a Saudi-led coalition carried out strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
Talks continue
Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are continuing talks over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the consultations had been "constructive" and that the sides had made "some progress." According to him, technical and political negotiations are ongoing, while the situation with shipping has not yet changed.
What is Trump's position
Despite the pause in strikes, US President Donald Trump said American forces are "ready for battle" if large-scale strikes against Iran become necessary. At the same time, he stressed that no final decision has been made.
According to The New York Times, the White House has so far postponed a possible escalation. One reason cited is concern over dwindling stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles and other air defense systems in the region.
White House spokesman Steven Cheung said Washington continues to favor diplomacy but is keeping all options on the table if Iran continues to threaten shipping or US allies.
Earlier, Trump warned that Washington would hold Iran responsible for any new Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. He said Tehran, as well as the militants themselves, would face a harsh military response if the situation escalates further.
However, despite the US president's tough stance, Bloomberg reported that the Donald Trump administration is facing difficulties in funding the war against Iran.
An additional spending package has effectively been blocked in Congress, forcing the White House to look for alternative sources of funding.
