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US Halts Iran Strikes as Diplomats Push 10-Day Ceasefire Deal — AI-generated representative image: Diplomats from Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan mediate a proposed 10-day ceasefire between the US and Iran at a formal negotiation

Editorial Team

Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan lead mediation efforts after 13 nights of bombardment as concerns mount over depleting air defence stockpiles

The United States paused all strikes on Iran on Friday following nearly two weeks of escalating bombardments that included targets in the Strait of Hormuz. The halt, which came after the collapse of an Islamabad-brokered ceasefire, has been matched by Tehran ceasing its retaliatory attacks on US military assets and infrastructure across the region.

Global oil prices dropped roughly 4 percent in response, while regional mediators led by Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan submitted a proposal for a 10-day pause in fighting. The US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in full effect despite the lull.

The sudden cessation of hostilities marks a critical inflection point in a conflict that has destabilised vital shipping lanes, sent crude prices above $100 per barrel and drawn in multiple regional actors. With both Washington and Tehran absorbing severe economic and military costs, the pause opens a narrow window for diplomacy, even as fundamental disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved.

Ceasefire and Mediation Efforts

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed that the pause is intended to give diplomatic talks space, stating that negotiations are ongoing. Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan have jointly proposed a 10-day ceasefire, while Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Sunday that mediators are exchanging messages between the two sides.

Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia stated that Tehran's strategy had been "essentially retaliatory" and that Iran has now "halted our retaliatory operations." The US military, however, emphasised that its naval blockade of Iranian ports "remains in full effect."

Origins of the Conflict

The current crisis traces back to February 28, when the US and Israel began attacks on Tehran. Iran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. A memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 was meant to keep the strait open for at least 60 days while peace talks proceeded, but disagreements over ultimate control of shipping routes led Iran to attack vessels taking what it deemed "wrong" routes, prompting Trump to resume strikes.

The conflict has since spilled into multiple theatres. Houthi attacks along Yemen's Red Sea coast have slowed shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, while a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea killed at least one Iranian sailor. Meanwhile, Israel has occupied roughly one-fifth of Lebanon since early March, and Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has insisted that peace requires "the absolute, unconditional termination" of Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

Economic Pressures and Military Strain

Economist Nader Habibi told Al Jazeera that crude prices surged more than 20 percent to above $100 per barrel when fighting resumed two weeks ago, placing severe pressure on the global economy. He noted that the Trump administration faced demands "from all sides, both domestic and international partners, to find a solution." The cost of Iranian strikes on Gulf countries also risked alienating US allies due to economic damage.

On the Iranian side, US naval blockades and sanctions have produced kilometre-long queues for gasoline and diesel, alongside infrastructure damage including destroyed bridges and railways. US media outlet Axios reported that General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump that a shortage of Patriot antimissile interceptors could hamper force protection. The Pentagon confirmed 14 US personnel killed and 482 wounded in the conflict.

What Lies Ahead

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite the lull, with Iran's state broadcaster reporting that six ships attempted an "illegal and unsafe" route on Monday before being turned back. Iran continues discussions with Oman on a shared management protocol for reopening the waterway. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group stated that "the gap can be bridged only by returning to the MoU and resolving its ambiguities."

Trump has signalled openness to a deal, telling reporters there is "a smarter strategy: you make a deal. And they want to make a deal." Whether the proposed 10-day pause gains traction now depends on bridging the fundamental dispute over who controls shipping through the world's most critical oil transit corridor.

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