US Halts Iran Bombing for Second Night as Officials Warn of Limits

The United States has paused its bombing campaign against Iran for a second consecutive night after top military officials advised President Donald Trump that the nearly five-month-old operation has reached the limits of its effectiveness, according to multiple sources. The halt comes as diplomatic negotiations intensify to prevent a return to all-out war, with Iran also suspending what it called retaliatory attacks against US allies in the region.

Military Leaders Sound Alarm

Admiral Bradley Cooper, the top US military commander in the region, told Trump that the US has nearly exhausted its list of pre-approved targets in Iran and that continued bombing without a return to major combat operations offers little strategic value, Axios reported on Sunday. The warning, coupled with concerns over dwindling munitions stockpiles that could hamper a sustained campaign, influenced Trump's decision to pause strikes for the first time in nearly two weeks.

In an Oval Office meeting on Friday, Vice President JD Vance and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine also warned Trump of the risks of escalating the conflict further, media outlets reported. Trump had previously threatened to 'knock out everything they have,' but subsequently ordered the military to call off new strikes.

Despite the pause, White House UN Ambassador Mike Waltz indicated that additional strikes remain a possibility. 'I wouldn't go that far at all. The president is keeping all options on the table,' Waltz said on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.

Tehran’s Strategic Pause

Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia confirmed on Sunday that US attacks had stopped two nights ago and that Tehran had also halted its retaliatory operations. 'Our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations,' Akraminia said. However, another Iranian military spokesperson signaled defiance, claiming the US is 'experiencing strategic decision-making fatigue' and lacks a clear strategy.

The lull follows nearly two weeks of intense US strikes after the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by Trump. Washington blamed Iran for attacks on US forces and allies in the region, as well as Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway through which an estimated 20% of the world's oil and gas passes.

Diplomatic Talks Intensify

Senior diplomats from Iran and Oman were reportedly engaged in negotiations on Sunday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian official confirmed that colleagues had been in touch with US negotiators to prevent a return to war. Iran has demanded payment and control over which ships pass through the strait, according to sources.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told a press conference that mediators are working to prevent an escalation of tensions. The diplomatic push comes ahead of a scheduled visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday. Netanyahu, a vocal critic of Washington's negotiations with Iranian leaders, has pressed for continued US strikes against Iran as he faces pressure to show results from his own military campaigns against Iran and Hezbollah ahead of elections in October.

Implications and Next Steps

Trump's decision to pause the bombing campaign suggests he is weighing diplomatic and military options. The president told reporters on Friday that the US is talking to Iran and that Tehran appears to be 'getting more and more serious as the days go by.' The coming days will be critical as negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and broader de-escalation efforts continue. Meanwhile, the US military stands ready to resume strikes if diplomatic efforts fail, but the warning from top officials about limited effectiveness and dwindling resources may constrain further action.