President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. forces to halt airstrikes against Iran, bringing to an end a 13-day campaign of attacks. This decision comes amid concerns about the depletion of missile stockpiles in the Middle East and progress in negotiations through Oman, raising questions about whether the recent military conflict will shift to a diplomatic phase.
According to Axios, on July 24, Trump received a report on planned airstrikes from the military but chose not to approve them, instructing that no attacks be carried out. As a result, the airstrikes, which had been ongoing for 13 consecutive days, were stopped.
In recent weeks, Trump had approved daily airstrike plans submitted by the military, with attacks typically occurring within hours of approval. While the military continues to prepare plans for resuming airstrikes and large-scale military operations, sources indicate that Trump has not yet given his approval for these actions.
Concerns about the depletion of air defense missile stockpiles in the region also played a role in the decision to halt airstrikes. The New York Times reported that on July 24, General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned during a private meeting with Trump and his advisors that resuming large-scale military operations against Iran could deplete U.S. interceptors to dangerous levels.
Just days prior, Pentagon officials and military commanders believed Trump was likely to approve the first phase of a multi-step bombing campaign against Iran. The Defense Department had also deployed additional military assets, including aerial refueling aircraft, to the Middle East. In an interview with Axios on July 23, Trump stated, "We are considering a larger attack than ever before" and added, "We are fully prepared."
However, the military leadership's concerns about further depleting air defense assets, such as Patriot missiles, appear to have led Trump to postpone the bombing plans, according to the New York Times.
This order to halt airstrikes came shortly after an Omani negotiating team arrived in Tehran to discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A source familiar with the negotiations told Axios that there is a possibility of an agreement between Oman and Iran over the weekend. If an agreement is reached, Trump's acceptance of it could be a key factor in determining whether airstrikes will resume.
Trump has also expressed a preference for negotiation over military action. Speaking to reporters on July 24, he said, "A wiser strategy is to negotiate with Iran," adding, "We are talking to them now." During a dinner with White House correspondents that same day, he noted, "I don’t think Iran is ready to negotiate right now, but they are willing to listen."
Despite the halt in airstrikes, the U.S. maintains a full maritime blockade against Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced via social media on July 25 that it had redirected the routes of 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade and neutralized two vessels that did not comply with orders, while boarding two others to verify compliance with the blockade.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.