Iran Says It Halts Retaliation After US Pauses Airstrikes, Raising Prospects for Talks

Iranian military spokesperson says retaliation stopped after US halted airstrikes

Iran said on July 26 that it had halted retaliatory attacks on US allies in the Middle East after Washington suspended airstrikes against Iran for a second straight day.

Mohammad Akraminia, a spokesperson for the Iranian military, said US attacks had continued until the night of July 24 but had stopped over the past two days. Because Iran’s military strategy is centered on retaliation, it also suspended its retaliatory operations.

The pause in US airstrikes, which had continued nightly for about two weeks, and Iran’s halt to retaliatory attacks have raised the prospect of renewed negotiations. Still, US media reports said the suspension of the strikes may reflect strain from dwindling stocks of defensive weapons such as Patriot interceptor missiles.

CNN previously reported, citing an unidentified US Defense Department official, that President Donald Trump had warned on July 24 of a powerful strike, but US military operations against Iran were on hold. The New York Times also reported, citing multiple sources, that declining US munitions stockpiles were one factor delaying any expansion of military operations.

Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter, paksr365@hankyung.com