The United States paused its air and missile strikes on Iran for a second consecutive day on Sunday, and Tehran reciprocated, as mediators worked to revive an interim ceasefire deal that had been badly shaken by recent exchanges of fire. The nearly two-week escalation, triggered by Iran's attacks on ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, has drawn in regional US bases and raised fears over global energy supplies, with petrol prices rising again. It remains unclear why Washington halted its strikes, though US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said President Trump was "giving talks some space" while negotiators engaged at all levels.

A regional official involved in mediation described the mutual pause as a "positive signal", saying both sides want to return to the interim deal signed in mid-June, with a compromise reportedly centred on Iran managing Strait of Hormuz shipping with fewer restrictions. Iran's Foreign Ministry said talks with Oman on safe passage through the strait were progressing, though it maintains the waterway's status is unchanged and disputes US efforts to reroute shipping closer to Oman. Tensions have also spread to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels threatened a blockade of Saudi shipping, while Iran has separately struck US-linked targets in the region, killing at least three at a base in Jordan.