The United States paused its airstrikes on Iran for a second night in a row on July 26, 2026, after top military advisers told President Trump that the bombing campaign was running out of useful targets and that continuing could spark a bigger fight.

Reuters reported that the Pentagon stopped the strikes late on Friday, July 24, after 13 straight nights of bombing. Reuters. The US military had confirmed its 13th night of strikes that same day. No new strikes were announced over the weekend of July 25–26. NPR, Sky News, and CNN all confirmed this, with a US source telling CNN that operations were "on a hold."

Iran responded in kind. An Iranian source told Reuters that Iran will stop its attacks as long as the US keeps its pause. Iran's army spokesperson, Mohammad Akraminia, said US attacks continued until two nights ago and have stopped since. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said mediators are working to prevent things from getting worse. AP, reporting from Cairo, confirmed that both sides paused.

The decision came after a Friday meeting at the White House. Vice President JD Vance and Gen. Dan Caine, the top military adviser to the president, warned Trump about the risks of starting up the bombing again, according to media outlets cited by The Guardian. Axios reported something more specific: Adm. Bradley Cooper, the top US military commander in the region, told Trump that the campaign had reached the limits of what it could achieve and that there were almost no more targets left to hit. The Guardian. In other words, the military had largely bombed everything worth bombing.

Trump sent mixed signals on Friday. He told reporters: "We're talking to [the Iranians] right now… We're locked and loaded and ready to go, but we're talking." UN Ambassador Mike Waltz echoed that on NBC's Meet the Press, saying Trump is "keeping all options on the table" for more strikes. Reuters characterized it this way: Trump called off the bombing to "give diplomacy more time."

That diplomacy is happening now. Senior diplomats from Iran and Oman were meeting on Sunday to talk about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Guardian. CBS News reported that the US paused its bombing on purpose so it would not interfere with these sensitive talks. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow stretch of water between Iran and Oman through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes. It has been a major flashpoint in this conflict. Reuters reported on July 16 that US strikes had targeted Iranian military positions along the coast to weaken Iran's ability to control the strait. Iran called the waterway a "red line" and vowed to "resist until the end." Iran launched new attacks after a sixth day of US strikes on July 17. AP reported on July 14 that the US had blocked Iranian ports in response to Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the strait.

This confrontation between the US and Iran started after what the Pentagon called a "12-day war between Iran and Israel" that ended in a ceasefire. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned that ceasefire and what he called "peace momentum" in a press briefing. The US strike campaign began on July 8, 2026, per AP, and grew more intense each night through July 24. CENTCOM (the US military command for the Middle East) published press releases confirming each night of strikes, including an 8th night on July 18 and a 13th on July 23. CENTCOM also published a release on July 19 about US service members who had died, though the details do not specify how many or how.

One thing stands out about this pause: there is no official announcement. No White House, Pentagon, or State Department statement has been issued. The suspension is known only through news reports from Axios and CNN, an NBC interview, comments made to reporters, and the fact that the Pentagon has not announced new strikes over the weekend. Instead of a formal ceasefire (an official agreement to stop fighting), the situation is intentionally left unclear.

The bigger picture here is that this pause is fragile. Iran's promise to stop attacking only lasts as long as the US pauses its strikes. If the US bombs again, Iran will likely fight back again. Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel, is expected to visit the White House on Tuesday, per The Guardian. He is described as a vocal critic of the US talking to Iran. His visit will test whether this pause becomes a lasting step toward peace or just a short break before the bombing resumes. That could depend on whether the Strait of Hormuz talks make progress — and on whether Trump's talk of being "locked and loaded" stays just talk.

The combination of military advice, active diplomacy led by Oman, and Netanyahu's upcoming visit has created a narrow window where everyone is watching and waiting. Whether that window opens wider or shuts will depend on what comes out of the Strait of Hormuz negotiations — and on whether Trump's threat of more strikes stays rhetorical or turns real again.