US Suspends Iran Strikes Amid Munition Shortages and Diplomatic Push
The United States has halted strikes on Iran following nearly two weeks of bombardment, including operations in the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic mediators propose a 10-day ceasefire and concerns over US interceptor shortages emerge.
The United States has paused strikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of bombardment, including operations in the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of an Islamabad-brokered ceasefire. The suspension of attacks, which began on 28 February, comes as reports indicate Washington may be depleted of air defence interceptors, while global oil prices dropped approximately 4 percent, signalling a potential shift towards diplomacy. Although the US naval blockade remains in effect, retaliatory attacks by Iran on US assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan have ceased. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Pakistan are proposing a 10-day ceasefire, with US officials stating the pause allows space for ongoing talks.
Reports indicate the US may be running low on air defence interceptors, specifically Patriot antimissile interceptors, stationed in the Middle East. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly cautioned Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump that these shortages could hamper the protection of US forces and allies. US media reports suggest this munition shortage is a key factor in the decision to halt strikes, despite President Trump’s denial that stockpiles are critically low.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that six ships attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after turning off navigation systems; one vessel suffered an accident while others returned under “decisive Iranian management”. A Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea has killed at least one Iranian sailor, prompting Tehran to summon Ukrainian diplomats. US government figures initially confirmed 18 US personnel killed and 482 wounded in the conflict, though the Pentagon later reduced the death toll to 14.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has stated that peace with Washington is contingent on Israel ceasing attacks on Lebanon. Shipping traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb strait has slowed due to Houthi attacks and a declared naval blockade against the largest GCC member. The pause follows 13 nights of escalating strikes that began on 28 February, and Iran has ceased retaliatory attacks on US military assets and infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The US naval blockade of Iranian ports, including those in the Strait of Hormuz, remains in full effect.
Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Pakistan have submitted a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated the pause is intended to provide space for ongoing diplomatic talks. The global economy had come under severe pressure when the US and Iran returned to fighting two weeks ago, with crude prices jumping by more than 20 percent to above $100 per barrel. Experts suggest the cost of escalation and the inability of one side to force the other to give up are driving the move toward a negotiated settlement.
