In brief
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Air Force One that negotiations with Iran were underway, marking the first quiet night in three consecutive days of hostilities. Trump explained that Washington had paused its strikes following requests from mediators and acknowledged that Iran had likewise slowed its attacks. While optimistic about a swift resolution, he warned that operations would resume if talks failed. The pause follows a two‑week streak of daily U.S. strikes aimed at curbing Iran’s threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, after which oil prices briefly dropped. Trump also refuted reports of ammunition shortages, affirming that the U.S. possesses ample munitions and is building additional Patriot air‑defence systems.
Donald Trump said the United States and Iran were engaged in "friendly negotiations" after three consecutive days of no new strikes.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump expressed optimism that the pause could lead to a rapid end to the conflict, adding, “I think there's a good chance that something could happen.” He also warned Washington would resume previous operations if the dialogue collapsed.
Iran’s government has denied that any direct discussions are occurring, while Tehran and U.S. allies had paused their own attacks. Trump noted the pause followed an earlier request from mediators to give talks a chance.
U.S. forces have conducted over two weeks of daily air strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. After a brief pause, U.S. air attacks resumed following an Iranian missile strike on U.S. tankers on July 13.
Trump dismissed questions about ammunition levels, claiming the U.S. holds “a lot of ammunition” and is also building additional Patriot missile systems to guarantee readiness. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly echoed the statement, underscoring the U.S. has abundant munitions for its strategic objectives.
Oil prices fell over 9% that Monday following hopes of de‑escalation, trending to $87.59 per barrel at one point. The temporary lull offers a window for diplomatic efforts, though Tehran’s future moves remain uncertain.
