The Trump administration has suspended attacks on Iranian military targets indefinitely after 13 consecutive nights of strikes, seeking to give diplomatic talks a chance to succeed. The pause remained in place for a second day amid fears that the conflict could spread into a wider regional war in the Middle East. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz confirmed the decision on Sunday. President Donald Trump and senior Iranian officials also confirmed that the two sides had agreed to halt attacks.

The United States says Iran attacked at least two to three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz three weeks earlier, violating the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries. The reported breach heightened tensions and raised the risk of a major regional conflict. Mediating countries including Pakistan and Qatar expressed concern and urged both Washington and Tehran to step back to avoid a bloody confrontation.

The mediators also called on the United States and Iran to resolve their dispute through direct talks and preserve the ceasefire, described as the core basis of the memorandum signed in mid-June. Their efforts were followed by the agreement to pause attacks. It remains unclear whether the suspended memorandum of understanding will be fully restored through the discussions.