Iran will halt attacks as long as US maintains pause, Iranian source says after Trump calls off strikes

Iran has indicated it will cease its retaliatory attacks provided the United States maintains its current suspension of air strikes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters. This statement follows President Donald Trump's abrupt halt to a two-week bombing campaign against Iran.

Following 13 nights of escalating U.S. air strikes, the Pentagon suspended the campaign late Friday. Neither Saturday nor Sunday saw reported U.S. attacks. Iran, which had been conducting its own strikes on neighboring countries hosting U.S. bases after each U.S. operation, has also refrained from attacks for the past two days.

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Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations. That message has already been conveyed to the United States.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz suggested on Fox News that Trump's decision to pause U.S. attacks was intended to allow more diplomatic space. "He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room," Waltz stated.

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He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room.

The senior Iranian source, speaking anonymously, conveyed Tehran's stance: "Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations. That message has already been conveyed to the United States." However, the source added that Iran is prepared for a significant response if the U.S. resumes its attacks.

Despite the pause, Iranian officials expressed skepticism about a fundamental shift in U.S. negotiating strategy. "There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine. Iran has accumulated enough bitter experience with what it sees as U.S. deception," the source said. Reports also emerged that some Trump administration advisers had raised concerns about missile defense stocks and the potential for larger military options, leading the president to reconsider escalation plans.

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There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine. Iran has accumulated enough bitter experience with what it sees as U.S. deception.