Trump Pauses Iran Air Strikes Amid Negotiations, Concerns Over Ammunition Stockpiles
President Trump has halted new strikes against Iran after military advisors warned about dwindling munitions supplies, breaking a nearly two-week bombing campaign. Trump said negotiations are underway and military forces remain ready, citing progress in talks.
Bombing Campaign Paused
President Trump directed the U.S. military not to conduct new strikes in Iran on Friday, breaking a nearly two-week streak in daily attacks. Trump's decision came after a meeting with his top advisers, in which Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, participated.
Trump's Diplomatic Signal
"We're talking to [the Iranians] right now. I think they're getting more and more serious as the days go by. We're locked and loaded and ready to go, but we're talking to them," Trump told reporters. The statement suggests Trump sees potential diplomatic progress even as military readiness remains high.
Ammunition Concerns Drive Strategy
Military officials have raised serious concerns about ongoing munitions consumption. Republican senators say that confidence is waning in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership of the U.S. armed forces as the war with Iran drags on without an end in sight. The pause in strikes reflects the administration's need to reassess supply chains and sustainability of the campaign.
Broader Conflict Context
Mediators have achieved progress in getting the United States and Iran back to negotiations, regional officials said Monday, after both sides paused attacks following a period of rapidly escalating tensions. Saudi Arabia said it had shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq that had targeted its petroleum facilities. Neither the U.S. nor Iran reported carrying out any attacks for three days — marking a significant shift after weeks of escalation.