Iran will halt attacks as long as the US maintains its pause on air strikes a senior Iranian official said after halting the bombing campaign

Iran Will Halt Attacks If US Maintains Pause, Iranian Official Says

Halt attacks as long as the United States continues its latest pause on air strikes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday. The statement came after US President Donald Trump abruptly called off a bombing campaign that had continued for nearly two weeks.

The temporary pause has created a fragile calm between Washington and Tehran. However, both sides remain deeply suspicious of each other, raising questions about whether the halt could lead to genuine diplomacy or only represent a brief break before the conflict escalates again.

Iran Will Halt Attacks During US Pause

According to the senior Iranian official, Tehran’s position remains based on a simple principle: attack for attack.

“If the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations,” the official said, adding that the message had already been conveyed to the United States.

However, the official also warned that Iran would respond strongly if Washington launches another attack.

“Iran is prepared to mount a broad response should the US launch another attack,” the source said.

The comments suggest that Iran is not declaring a permanent end to military operations. Instead, Tehran appears ready to maintain its own pause as long as the United States does the same.

Trump Pauses US Air Strikes

The United States had carried out air strikes against Iran for 13 consecutive nights. The Pentagon then unexpectedly suspended the campaign late on Friday.

No new US attacks were reported on Saturday or Sunday.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Trump decided to pause the strikes to give diplomacy more time.

“He is leaving some breathing room for talks,” Waltz told Fox News in an interview on Sunday.

The administration has not provided many details about what diplomatic discussions may be taking place behind the scenes. Still, officials have suggested that Trump’s preference remains diplomacy, even after the US military campaign.

A senior Trump administration official said the president had always made clear that he preferred negotiations. However, the official also said the military strikes were intended to demonstrate what could happen if Iran refused to engage seriously.

Tehran Remains Sceptical

Despite the temporary halt in attacks, Iran appears far from convinced that Washington has changed its broader strategy.

The senior Iranian source said Tehran has “more scepticism than optimism” about the latest pause.

According to the source, many Iranian officials believe the US decision could be tactical rather than a genuine change in policy.

Iran’s leadership has accumulated what it considers years of experience with US promises and negotiations. That history has created deep mistrust between the two countries.

The Iranian official suggested that Tehran remains concerned that the pause could end suddenly if negotiations fail to meet Washington’s expectations.

Thus far, the break in the action has lowered the chance of further attacks, but not the tensions themselves.

Two Days Without Direct Attacks

The United States and Iran have both refrained from major attacks for two days.

Before the pause, Iran had responded to US strikes by launching attacks against neighbouring countries hosting American military bases.

The cycle had raised concerns that the conflict could expand across the wider Middle East.

A temporary reduction in attacks could provide diplomats with an opportunity to prevent further escalation. However, any new US strike could quickly end the current calm, according to the Iranian official.

The situation remains highly fragile, with both sides closely watching the other’s next move.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Central

The conflict is also closely connected to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

US forces said their military operations were carried out in response to Iranian attacks linked to shipping in the strategic waterway.

Iran, however, has said it aims to retain control of the strait.

Any major disruption in the region could have serious consequences for global energy markets and international shipping.

The waterway is particularly important because a significant share of the world’s oil and energy shipments passes through the area. As a result, any further escalation between the United States and Iran could quickly become a global economic concern.

Houthis Target Saudi Oil Facilities

The broader regional tensions also continued during the pause in US-Iranian attacks.

On Saturday, the Houthis launched attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea region, according to the report.

The development added another layer of uncertainty to an already tense situation across the Middle East.

The Houthis have previously been involved in attacks connected to regional conflicts, and their actions have raised concerns about the possibility of the conflict spreading beyond direct US-Iranian confrontation.

Trump Advisers Raise Missile Defence Concerns

Reports from The New York Times and CNN also said that advisers to President Trump had raised concerns about US missile defence stocks.

The reports suggested that the availability of missile defence systems had become a factor in discussions surrounding the ongoing military campaign.

The issue highlights the pressure that prolonged military operations can place on defence resources.

While the White House has not publicly confirmed all details of those discussions, the reports add to the growing uncertainty surrounding the future of the US military campaign.

Diplomacy Faces Major Challenges

For diplomacy to succeed, both Washington and Tehran would need to overcome years of mistrust.

The United States wants Iran to come to the negotiating table and make serious commitments. Iran, meanwhile, remains highly suspicious of US intentions and has warned that it will respond to any renewed attack.

That makes the current pause extremely delicate.

If the United States continues to hold its fire, Iran has indicated that it will also halt its attacks. But if Washington resumes military operations, Tehran has warned that a broader response could follow.

The next phase could therefore depend heavily on whether diplomatic channels remain open.

A Prearious Truce

For now, there is a temporary state of calm within the region following the weeks of growing military activity.

The assertion that Iran will cease hostilities as long as the United States continues to hold back provides an opportunity for diplomacy. Nevertheless, due to the intense level of mistrust that exists between the two parties, it does not seem like either side will be willing to trust the other.

The next few days will likely prove vital.

A further extension of the pause will allow for negotiations while minimizing the danger of regional conflict. A fresh attack on the other hand may undo all the gains made towards peace.

For now, Washington and Tehran wait for the next move by the other party.

Read more: According to a Reuters report, the Iranian official said Tehran would respond if the US resumed attacks.