US and Iran pause strikes for third night to make space for talks, US ambassador says

The United States and Iran have suspended military strikes for three consecutive nights to allow space for diplomatic negotiations, according to US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. This pause follows nearly two weeks of continuous US strikes and retaliatory attacks that effectively collapsed a ceasefire agreement reached in June. The recent escalation began when Iranian forces attacked tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on July 13, prompting the US to resume airstrikes and reinstate a naval blockade, which Iran answered with attacks on American military facilities that killed four US soldiers.