WASHINGTON — Iran passed another night without fresh US airstrikes on Sunday as Washington paused its military campaign, now approaching its fifth month, amid growing reports that concerns over dwindling supplies of key munitions could be limiting plans for further escalation.
The temporary lull has renewed hopes that the United States and Iran could return to the negotiating table after nearly two weeks of consecutive nightly US bombardments. However, reports from US media outlets suggested that the pause may also have been influenced by concerns over shrinking stocks of Patriot missile interceptors and other critical defensive weapons.
The conflict, which began with tensions over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, has since expanded beyond the vital energy corridor, with attacks reported against US military bases, regional shipping and Gulf allies.
CNN, quoting an unidentified Pentagon source, reported that US military operations against Iran were currently “on hold,” despite President Donald Trump’s warning on Friday that Tehran could face strikes at a “much higher level.”
The New York Times also reported that plans to intensify the military campaign had been shelved partly because of concerns over dwindling munitions supplies. The report, citing two people briefed on the matter, said the situation was adding to the challenges confronting the Trump administration.
According to the newspaper, Trump is also facing the possibility of a broader Middle East conflict, strained relations with vulnerable Gulf allies and further disruptions to the global economy.
CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance and the US military’s top officer, General Dan Caine, raised concerns about further escalation during a White House meeting on Friday.
Caine reportedly told Trump that the military was capable of carrying out the available operational options but warned him about the potential consequences of expanding the conflict.
Trump Threatens ‘Much Higher Level’ of Strikes
Trump said on Friday that he had yet to decide whether to resume a full-scale military operation against Iran, while indicating that diplomatic efforts were still underway.
“We’re talking to them right now. I think they’re getting more and more serious,” Trump told journalists.
He said Iran was facing a choice between reaching an agreement and confronting attacks at a “much higher level.”
The conflict, which Trump had previously predicted would last only four or five weeks, is now approaching its fifth month. The prolonged war is also reportedly weighing on the president’s approval ratings ahead of the crucial US midterm elections scheduled for November.
Axios reported that the Pentagon had presented Trump with plans for a 14th consecutive night of strikes, but the president declined to authorise the operation and instead opted to pursue renewed diplomatic engagement.
Conflict Spreads to New Front
Meanwhile, the conflict has opened a new front in the region, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claiming to have carried out attacks against Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis said they targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday, a day after Saudi forces reportedly launched strikes against Houthi positions.
The Greek Air Force media office said a surface-to-air missile battery operated by Greek personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles and a drone over Yanbu.
In another development, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had prevented four ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz within a 24-hour period.
The waterway remains the main flashpoint between Tehran and Washington, with Iran’s effective restrictions on shipping through the strategic route continuing to raise concerns over global energy supplies and international trade.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, rejected responsibility for the escalation and offered to facilitate talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Araghchi maintained that the crisis could not be resolved through military action, insisting that “there is no military solution” to the conflict.
