Iran halts retaliatory operations after US stops airstrikes

Iran said Sunday that it has fully halted retaliatory strikes against US allies in the Middle East after the United States stopped its airstrikes on Iran.

Mohammad Akraminia, a spokesperson for the Iranian military, said Sunday that US military attacks had continued through the night two days earlier but had stopped over the past two days. "Our military strategy is fundamentally aimed at retaliation, so we have also halted our retaliatory operations," he said, according to Yonhap.

The armed conflict between the two countries over control of the Strait of Hormuz had derailed earlier diplomatic efforts, with the front lines subsequently expanding to US military bases in the Middle East, commercial shipping in the region and Gulf allies.

With the nightly US bombardment that had continued for about two weeks now halted, and Iran having suspended its retaliatory strikes, cautious speculation has emerged about a possible resumption of negotiations.

However, US media outlets have suggested the halt in airstrikes may reflect pressure from dwindling stockpiles of defensive weapons, including Patriot interceptor missiles.

CNN had earlier reported, citing anonymous Defense Department sources, that American military operations against Iran were on hold even though President Donald Trump had warned of far more severe strikes on Friday. The New York Times also reported that a decline in US military munitions supply was among the factors slowing plans to expand military operations.

The Iranian military has warned that if the United States resumes attacks ahead of the scheduled Washington meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump on Tuesday, the war will escalate further.