President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to halt additional strikes on Iran, ending 13 consecutive days of attacks, according to Axios. The decision came as Omani officials held talks in Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump saying diplomacy is now the 'smarter strategy.'
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to halt all additional strikes on Iran, ending a 13-day campaign of American airstrikes, Axios reported Saturday evening (20:29 Jerusalem). The decision came as Omani officials held talks in Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump describing diplomacy as the 'smarter strategy.'
The development follows a series of conflicting signals from the White House throughout Saturday. At 13:15 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the U.S. had refrained from striking Iran for the first time in 13 days, breaking a streak of consecutive nights of attacks (versions 1–3 of the thread). Trump confirmed that talks with Tehran were ongoing but said he did not believe the time was right for a deal (version 5). By 20:11 Jerusalem, Axios reported that Trump opposed expanding the strikes, though the U.S. military was preparing contingency plans for large-scale operations. The halt order represents a significant shift from that posture.
The 13-day campaign began after Iran struck commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz with cruise missiles and drones on July 9, as The Zioneer reported. Trump subsequently abandoned a ceasefire and authorized renewed strikes, with the stated goal of ensuring freedom of navigation, according to U.S. officials cited by i24NEWS (as The Zioneer reported on June 11).
It remains unclear whether the halt is temporary or signals a longer-term cessation of hostilities. The Omani mediation effort is ongoing, and no details have emerged on the substance of the talks in Tehran.
9 developments
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- DevelopingTrump reportedly orders preparations for massive strike on Iran
Source and signal
- Open-source intake