Event·Military·High severity

US and Iran pause strikes for a second straight day; no formal ceasefire and Iran says no current negotiations

26 JUL 2026 · 0000Z

After nearly two weeks of fighting that shattered the mid-June 60-day ceasefire, the United States and Iran both paused their strikes around 25-26 July. President Trump said the US halted attacks 'at the request of the Iranian regime' and warned Washington would resume unless a new ceasefire deal is reached; Iran says it is not currently negotiating with the US (NPR, CNN). The lull has stopped the daily strikes on shipping but is not a formal ceasefire, no agreement has been signed, and the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted with transit far below normal. A genuine de-escalation step