UNITED STATES PERSPECTIVE

Washington, July 28, 2026. For the third consecutive day, American forces have conducted no strikes against Iran, and Tehran has done the same according to its military spokesman quoted by Iranian state television. The pause, which began Friday after nearly two weeks of bombardments around the Strait of Hormuz, is presented by the White House as a diplomatic choice. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz explained on Fox News that Donald Trump is "giving space to negotiations," referencing discussions underway with Oman and Iran "at all levels."

However, the presidential decision also reflects military calculations. According to Axios, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, had recommended halting the Hormuz campaign, determining it had "reached the limit of its effectiveness" and that designated targets were "largely exhausted"—roughly 20 percent of objectives remain unaddressed. The New York Times reported separately that concerns over declining ammunition stocks influenced Trump's rejection of the "massive attack" he had considered Friday.

The president publicly dismissed these concerns. Aboard Air Force One en route to Michigan, he asserted having "plenty of ammunition, different types," adding: "more than we could ever use." He attributed any ammunition supply tension to the Biden administration, which he said had "given a lot to Ukraine."

Economically, the truce immediately pushed oil prices lower: Brent fell below $90 on Monday, then declined further to $87.24 on Tuesday, while U.S. WTI dropped to approximately $81.60. Stock markets rebounded, buoyed by technology shares. Trump was scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington to discuss next steps on the Iran file. Tehran denies accepting a ten-day ceasefire but confirms suspending its fire as long as the American pause holds—a position regional officials characterize as a "positive signal" for ongoing mediation efforts.