The United States confirmed it is engaged in negotiations with Iran during a lull in military strikes, as Saudi and American forces conducted joint strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump at the White House [5][10][14]. Trump stated that "very friendly negotiations" were taking place and that there was a "good chance" of ending the war [5][14]. He told Der Spiegel the US is in "sehr tiefe Verhandlungen mit Iran" (very deep negotiations with Iran) and stopped attacks to give talks a chance [10]. Iranian officials directly contradicted this account. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Bakaei stated that Iran is not in any negotiations with the United States, calling claims that Iran requested negotiations "inventions" [10][20]. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran has "no plans to negotiate with the US" and that Washington had sent messages pleading for an end to the conflict [18].
Trump paired his diplomatic optimism with explicit warnings that the US would resume military action if talks do not quickly produce results, stating that "either things go fast or they don't go at all" [3][5]. He threatened to strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site if no agreement is reached [6][20]. Pakistani editorial commentary argued the pause in strikes stems from practical constraints including munitions shortages and economic costs rather than a commitment to peace [9]. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated the US military has "more than enough munitions" to serve Trump's strategic goals [5]. Turkish reporting detailed US officials describing Iran's financial troubles, including inability to pay fighters, bank run risk, and gasoline shortages, framing sanctions and economic pressure as the primary US tool [15]. Analyst Brett Erickson of Obsidian Risk Advisors disputed this approach, stating that economic warfare is "a fundamentally wrong approach to the Iran war" and noting Iran earned an estimated $23 billion in oil revenue in the first half of the year [15].
US Central Command and Saudi Arabia announced joint strikes on Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Iraq, with CENTCOM stating the strikes targeted "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure" following over 30 drone attacks in 72 hours [7][8][23], though Al Jazeera reports the attacks spanned 30 days [2]. Saudi Arabia confirmed its participation, saying it hit targets belonging to militias linked to attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities and stressing it "does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces" [7][8][29]. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said the strikes targeted its headquarters in Basra, killing and injuring people, and called the operation a "highly dangerous escalation" that violated Iraq's sovereignty [8][13][29]. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied responsibility for the drone attacks, calling Saudi claims "fabrications" [14]. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into militant attacks and committed to preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a launching point for attacks on neighboring countries [14].
The IRGC stated it fired ballistic missiles at a US airbase and CENTCOM center in Jordan in retaliation for US actions, stating that "resistance will also continue" as long as US threats persist [8][16][29]. CENTCOM reported all Iranian missiles were intercepted [1][10]. The IRGC also stated it struck and halted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz for sailing an "unsafe and illegal route" [13][14]. Jordan's armed forces confirmed shooting down three Iranian missiles targeting Jordanian territory [39]. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea announced attacks on Saudi oil supply and transport targets from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu on the Red Sea using drones [32]. The Houthis also stated they targeted the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL with ballistic missiles in the Red Sea for violating their naval blockade [20].
Netanyahu described his 90-minute White House meeting with Trump as "excellent" and "one of the best conversations I've ever had with the president of the United States," emphasizing the shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons [6][8][24][28]. The White House called the meeting "positive and productive" [6][14]. Israeli security expert Amos Yadlin stated that Trump is asking Israel less about what matters to it and that Israel has been "downgraded from a credible, value-equal partner to second place behind Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar" [22]. Former general Giora Eiland said Israel has become "a burden or something insignificant in the eyes of the US" [22]. Steve Bannon criticized Netanyahu's frequent White House visits as disastrous for "America First" policy, saying fervent Trump supporters are furious [12]. Trump dismissed Netanyahu's intelligence on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, saying "I don't need Bibi to tell me that" and questioning why Netanyahu announced it publicly [6][12].
Regional mediators including Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan are working to turn the pause into a permanent ceasefire, with Oman proposing a joint regional mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz with voluntary fees [9][15][43]. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged adherence to the memorandum of understanding and offered continued mediation, while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said Russia is interested in renewed diplomatic efforts and views US strikes as a unilateral violation [36][37]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also met with Trump in Washington, discussed licenses for producing Patriot interceptor missiles and reviving diplomatic efforts with Russia [25][26][31]. Analysis from Responsible Statecraft argued Zelenskyy is seeking to merge the Ukraine and Iran wars into a single theater by offering drone warfare expertise and the possibility of opening a northern front against Iran via the Caspian Sea [21].
American voters interviewed by The Guardian expressed frustration over rising gas prices above $4 per gallon and tax dollars funding war while social services are cut [33]. BBC Persian published ground-level video reports from Iranian citizens showing power cuts, fuel queues, and infrastructure damage during US strikes [34]. Iranian citizens quoted in exile media argued that any negotiated settlement betrays victims of state violence, saying the deal ignores the thousands killed and imprisoned [35]. Oil prices dropped approximately 9% on de-escalation hopes, though market analysts noted the decline reflects an unwinding of war premium rather than physical supply recovery [5][42]. War-risk insurance premiums rose to up to 10% of hull value in the Strait of Hormuz, with industry experts reporting reduced vessel availability and longer voyages [41]. The US has requested South Korea send warships to the Strait of Hormuz [44]. Import-dependent nations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia face fuel shortages, currency depreciation, and food security risks, with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urging citizens to use fuel carefully [47][48]. International legal commentary noted that Iran's strikes on Gulf states drew widespread condemnation while the initial US and Israeli strikes that provoked them received comparatively little explicit criticism [46].
The diplomatic opening and military operations are proceeding simultaneously, with Trump's stated negotiations facing direct contradiction from Tehran and joint US-Saudi strikes on Iraqi militias drawing responses from Iran and its proxies across multiple fronts [5][10][14][29]. Regional mediators continue pushing for a permanent ceasefire framework centered on the Strait of Hormuz, while Netanyahu's visit to Washington produced public displays of unity alongside Israeli experts' assessments that Israel's standing with the US has declined [6][22][43].