Iran announced it was temporarily suspending retaliatory military operations against US allies in the Middle East after the United States stopped attacks on Iran for the past two nights. The announcement, reported on July 26, came after Washington temporarily paused a war that had been nearing five months. Iranian army spokesman Mohammad AkraminIA said Iran's strategy had been to strike back in response to hostile or offensive actions.

The conflict, centered on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, had disrupted diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. It later expanded beyond a major energy corridor to attacks involving US bases in the Middle East, regional shipping and US-allied Gulf countries. The reported pause has raised hopes of a return to diplomatic talks, while US media reports said pressure to maintain supplies of defensive weapons, including Patriot interceptors, may have contributed to the halt.

CNN, citing a Pentagon source, reported that US military operations against Iran were currently paused. President Donald Trump nevertheless threatened much larger attacks if necessary on Friday. The New York Times reported that plans to escalate had been put on hold because weapons stocks were declining. At a White House meeting, Vice President JD Vance and General Dan Caine voiced concern about the risks of wider conflict, and Caine warned Trump about possible consequences.