Breaking news update, July 26, 2026: Iran said Sunday that it has halted its retaliatory attacks in the region after the United States stopped striking Iran for the past two nights, adding a fragile de-escalation signal to the still-dangerous Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Iran’s attacks had continued until two nights ago, but that Tehran had also stopped because Washington had held fire. “Since… our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations,” Akraminia said, according to The Hindu’s AFP live coverage.
Gulf News carried the same Akraminia statement and reported that the U.S. pause came as Oman-Iran talks over the Strait of Hormuz continued. CBS News separately reported that regional sources said Oman-Iran talks had made progress but needed more time.
A pause, not a settlement
The statement matters because it is different from a vague call for calm. Iran is publicly tying its own regional attacks to whether the United States resumes airstrikes. That creates a narrow opening for diplomacy, but it also makes the next U.S. move unusually important.
The U.S. military pause follows nearly two weeks of intensified strikes. The Hindu reported that regional officials involved in mediation viewed the lull in U.S. strikes and Iranian counterstrikes as a “positive signal” for de-escalation efforts.
But the same crisis has not ended. U.S. Central Command said its naval blockade against Iran remains in “full effect,” and the Strait of Hormuz remains the central flashpoint. Iran has been trying to control traffic through the waterway, while the United States has continued maritime enforcement against vessels it says are trying to breach the blockade.
Hormuz talks are still moving
Iran also said Sunday that talks with Oman had made progress on managing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials described the discussions as focused on operational rules for shipping while respecting the rights of the two coastal states.
That diplomatic track is critical because Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil and gas routes. Even a partial disruption can ripple through energy markets, shipping insurance, and military planning across the Gulf.
Still, the talks are happening under pressure. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said they stopped ships attempting to transit the strait, while the U.S. blockade remains active. Both sides are therefore signaling restraint in the air while still applying pressure at sea.
The wider war risk remains
The halt in Iranian retaliation also comes as the conflict’s pressure points spread beyond Iran itself. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have claimed attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities near the Red Sea, and Iran has accused Ukraine of a deadly attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea.
For now, the latest development is a pause with conditions attached. Iran says it has stopped retaliating because the U.S. has stopped striking. If that holds, mediators may get room to work. If it breaks, Tehran is already warning that the war could widen again.