Iran halts ‘retaliatory strikes’ after lull in U.S. attacks
Iran has announced a halt to its retaliatory military operations following a lull in U.S. attacks in West Asia. Tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz due to reports of tanker incidents and ongoing disputes over maritime control.
Why it matters
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is a major geopolitical flashpoint that directly impacts global oil prices and international maritime security.
Extending the weekend lull in fighting in West Asia, with the United States having halted operations after 13 days of strikes, Iran announced on Sunday (July 26, 2026) that it too was halting its operations.
Iran’s army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia was reported as saying: “Since our strategy has essentially been retaliatory, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.”
On Sunday (July 26, 2026), the Tasnim news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that a tanker exploded after it hit a mine while transiting the Strait of Hormuz through a route Iran had not approved. The news agency had made a similar claim about another tanker on July 23, adding that two other tankers had refrained from crossing the Strait after that incident.
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