Donald Trump Reported to Have Ordered Halt to Attacks on Iran
Key Takeaways
- •Trump reportedly ordered the military not to proceed with newly approved attacks on Iran after 13 days of daily US strikes.
- •The reported pause came after an Omani delegation visited Tehran to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
- •The Strait of Hormuz is a critical oil transit route, and restrictions there can affect energy markets, shipping firms, and Gulf export-dependent governments.
- •Iran reportedly rejected a US-sourced ceasefire proposal because it did not settle the Strait of Hormuz dispute and offered only a temporary halt.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump in Washington as further diplomatic contacts with Tehran remain possible.
US President Donald Trump reportedly instructed the military not to carry out new attacks on Iran that he had previously approved on Friday.
According to Axios, citing two sources close to the matter, Trump's decision means a pause in the daily US attacks against Iran, which have been ongoing for 13 days. It remains unclear whether this step represents a temporary halt or a sign of a more comprehensive shift in Washington's Iran policy. A halt in planned strikes would not by itself amount to a ceasefire, but it could create space for diplomacy if military operations remain paused while mediators continue talks.
The decision drew attention because it came hours after an Omani delegation traveled to Tehran to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global seaborne oil supplies pass. Any restriction on commercial traffic there can quickly become a broader concern for energy markets, shipping companies, and governments dependent on Gulf exports. Reports of progress in negotiations mediated by Oman strengthened expectations that military tensions in the region could be reduced. Oman has historically served as a diplomatic intermediary between Iran and Western nations.
However, diplomatic talks have yet to produce a comprehensive agreement. According to the New York Times, Iran rejected a US-sourced ceasefire proposal conveyed to Tehran by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. Iranian officials reportedly argued that the proposal did not resolve the dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz and envisioned only a temporary ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington on Monday at Trump's invitation. Netanyahu is reportedly scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday and attend the funeral of the late US Senator Lindsey Graham. The outcome of those discussions, along with any further Omani-mediated contacts with Tehran, will help clarify whether the reported pause remains limited to immediate military planning or becomes part of a wider diplomatic effort.