US President Donald Trump has directed the US military to temporarily halt new strikes on Iran, ending nearly two weeks of daily attacks, according to a report by Axios citing sources familiar with the decision.
The report said Trump declined to approve a planned round of strikes on Friday after authorising military operations over the previous 13 days. It remains unclear whether the pause is temporary or signals a broader shift in US policy toward Iran.
According to the report, the decision reflects Trump's desire to create more space for diplomacy and his assessment that the current military campaign has reached its practical limits without escalating into a larger conflict.
Despite the pause in strikes, the US military continues to prepare for the possibility of further escalation, although Trump has not ordered any expansion of military operations.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said he retained the option to continue or intensify military action against Iran, including "knocking out everything they have." However, he described diplomacy as the "smarter strategy."
"We're talking to the Iranians right now. I think they're getting more and more serious as the days go by. We're locked and loaded and ready to go, but we're talking to them," Trump said.
Later, while addressing the White House Correspondents Association dinner, the president said he did not believe Iran was yet ready to reach an agreement but added, "I'm willing to listen."
The reported decision came hours after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran for talks aimed at securing a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
According to two regional sources cited in the report, the negotiations have made progress, and Oman and Iran could reach an agreement over the weekend. The sources said Trump is expected to decide whether to accept the proposed deal if an agreement is finalised.