U.S. and Iran pause fighting as ceasefire talks gain traction

A two-day pause in fighting between the United States and Iran has taken hold as diplomatic talks over the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waterways make progress, a fragile opening after nearly two straight weeks of intense exchanges. CBS News sources say the halt in strikes is tied directly to those negotiations, and two sources said the U.S. paused attacks as the diplomacy moved in a positive direction.

The talks center on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the territorial waterways that carry a large share of regional shipping, a route that has repeatedly shaped the conflict. The pause comes after a stretch of U.S. and Iranian strikes that pushed both sides toward an interim ceasefire effort, but earlier efforts largely broke down once fire was exchanged again.

That pattern has already played out several times. AP reported on June 21, 2025, that the U.S. inserted itself into Israel’s war with Iran and struck three Iranian nuclear sites, a move that widened the conflict and set off further retaliation. Two days later, CBS News said Iranian strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar had little impact, according to officials, but the exchanges did not produce a durable break in the violence.

More recently, AP and CBS live updates said both sides had again been pulled back toward negotiations on an interim ceasefire deal before those talks ran into setbacks. The two outlets also said earlier negotiations in 2026 had reached broad principles or wording of a deal before unraveling, underscoring how quickly even limited progress has evaporated when the shooting resumed.

The latest pause also comes with pressure building inside the U.S. military. CBS News has reported that officials are worried the force may be running low on crucial munitions, adding a logistical strain to an already volatile confrontation. For now, the halt in strikes reflects movement in diplomacy, but the record of the past year shows how easily the fighting can restart once either side concludes the other is not holding to the terms.