For almost two weeks, the United States bombed military sites in Iran. Then, around July 24, 2026, the bombings stopped. Iran also stopped its attacks. By July 27, both countries had a quiet truce for three days.
This pause is a short break in a conflict that has lasted about five months. The fighting became very bad when Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This is an important waterway for oil. The US responded by bombing Iran for thirteen nights to stop it from threatening ships.
The five-month conflict has been costly. During recent Iranian attacks, three US soldiers died in Jordan. President Donald Trump said the US military destroyed Iran's navy and air force. However, defense officials advised the president to stop the bombings because they were running out of ammunition and questioned if the attacks were useful.
Now, countries are trying to solve the problem through talking. US Ambassador Mike Waltz said the president is allowing time for negotiations. But Esmaeil Baghaei from Iran's Foreign Ministry said there is no direct contact. He explained that messages are sent through other countries like Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan.
The current problem started when an agreement from June 2026 failed. That deal gave both sides sixty days to find a solution. The US was supposed to end economic sanctions and its naval blockade. Iran promised to keep the Strait of Hormuz safe and not seek nuclear weapons. Both countries blame each other for breaking the deal. The US says Iran attacked ships first. Iran says it kept its promises and the US broke the deal by charging fees for ships in the strait.
Even though the US and Iran are not fighting, the conflict is affecting other areas. On July 26, Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, saying it was carrying weapons to Russia. Iran condemned the attack and blamed Israel.
Diplomacy is difficult. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet President Trump soon. Netanyahu wants Iran's government to change or become weaker.
For now, the fighting has stopped, but the tension is still high. Iran's military fired warning shots at ships, and an Iranian oil tanker hit an underwater bomb. While diplomats talk through intermediaries, the Strait of Hormuz is quiet, with very few commercial ships passing through.