Iran said it will halt its attacks provided the United States maintains a pause in bombing, according to a senior Iranian official speaking to Reuters on July 26, 2026.

The United States suspended its air campaign on Friday, marking the first 48‑hour period without U.S. strikes since the campaign began on July 14. Iran had responded each night with attacks on facilities in Gulf Arab states that host U.S. bases.

An Iranian source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tehran's policy remains "attack for attack": if the United States stops striking, Iran will cease its operations, a message it has already conveyed to Washington. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News Sunday that President Donald Trump ordered the pause to create space for diplomatic talks. U.S. military officials said recent strikes aimed at deterring Iranian threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have largely exhausted the pre‑selected target sets, raising concerns about the sustainability of further bombing. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned privately to Trump that continuing operations could deplete munitions stocks, including air‑defense interceptors, though his office declined to comment publicly. White House officials indicated the pause followed discussions among senior military and political advisers, with reports that Vice President JD Vance and Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper advised halting the campaign due to limited effectiveness. Residents of Iran expressed uncertainty about the durability of the pause. Nader, a 49‑year‑old import‑export business owner in Tehran, said, "Everyone in the country is stuck in limbo. Trump is playing games with Iran. He neither ends the war and leaves the region nor strikes decisively. It's exhausting."

The pause's longevity remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the temporary de‑escalation will lead to renewed negotiations.