U.S. pauses airstrikes on Iran amid diplomacy

U.S. forces have paused airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensified bombing as diplomatic efforts advance to avert an all-out war. The pause comes amid uncertainty: President Donald Trump has both threatened additional strikes and said talks are pressing on, while he downplayed concerns that rising gas prices tied to the fighting could harm Republicans in the November midterms. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet Trump next week, and Israel — which joined the war with the U.S. on Feb. 28 — has so far been absent from the renewed American attacks even as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor moving 20% of global oil flows.

U.S. has paused airstrikes while diplomacy seeks to avert wider war