Iranian officials stated they will stop attacks as long as the U.S. continues to do so, following the American military's slowdown of strikes in the Middle East amid reports of ammunition shortages and depleted stockpiles.
On Sunday, 26 Jul 2026 GMT+7, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would cease its own attacks as long as the U.S. did the same, after the U.S. military slowed its strikes in the past week amid reports that Donald Trump's advisors were concerned about a lack of clear targets and dwindling ammunition supplies.
After the U.S. conducted airstrikes on various targets along Iran's coast near the Strait of Hormuz for 13 consecutive nights, the Department of Defense decided to suspend these operations midday Friday (24 Jul), with no further U.S. attacks reported on Saturday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, Iran, which had responded to each U.S. strike nightly by firing on neighboring countries hosting U.S. bases, has also slowed its retaliatory fire for the past two days.
An anonymous Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran's stance remains “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” adding that if the attacks stop, Iran intends to cease its operations as well. He said this message has been conveyed to the United States.
Previously, Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, stated on "Fox News Sunday" and other U.S. media that Trump decided to suspend attacks temporarily to allow more space for diplomacy.
"He is creating room for negotiation. He is providing some time and space," Waltz said, without offering further details.
Regarding the reason for the U.S. halt, an unnamed U.S. military official told American media that in recent days, officials warned that continuous bombings over two weeks, aimed at deterring Iran from attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, have nearly destroyed all preselected targets.
The same official added that resuming major military operations remains an option, but General Dan Khen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, personally warned President Trump that this entails risks due to the negative impact on ammunition stockpiles, including the air defense missile systems protecting U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The offices of General Khen and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to comment on these reports.
However, Waltz appeared to acknowledge these issues, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that the U.S. military "has everything necessary," but also noting that the Department of Defense inherited depleted weapons stockpiles from the previous administration under President Joe Biden.
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Source:reuters