The United States and Iran paused military strikes for a second consecutive day while talks continue toward an interim ceasefire. The pause follows a nearly two‑week escalation sparked by Iranian attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent U.S. strikes on Iranian coastal sites. U.N. ambassador Mike Waltz said negotiations are taking place at senior and technical levels and that the U.S. missile defense stockpile remains adequate. Iran’s army spokesperson announced that Tehran has also halted attacks, after striking U.S. bases in Jordan and Iraq that killed service members. A regional official described the pause as a positive signal for de‑escalation, noting that an interim deal signed in mid‑June set a 60‑day window but left the nuclear issue unresolved. Maritime data show traffic on the Strait of Hormuz at a three‑week low with no confirmed attacks in the past 72 hours, and the adjacent Bab al‑Mandeb strait remains steady. Iran said it is discussing safe passage with Oman, while the Pentagon reiterated that its naval blockade remains in effect, redirecting commercial vessels and boarding several ships. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supports President Trump’s pressure on Iran and will travel to Washington for talks. The pause provides an opening to negotiate shipping rules through the Strait of Hormuz, though the broader nuclear dispute remains unsettled.