After two weeks of intensified strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, the United States paused new attacks on Iran, with officials saying the pause is meant to give talks room to proceed. Iran said it would halt retaliatory attacks as long as the US holds its pause, signaling a reciprocal lull and keeping Gulf shipping and oil markets hopeful yet cautious. Mediators in Oman and regional actors such as Qatar pressed for a mechanism to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and advance a broader US-Iran dialogue, though Tehran demanded a service fee and Iranian management of the process. Analysts noted the pause could be temporary and questioned the durability of any agreement amid continuing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence, while oil prices reacted to the easing tension. Reports also highlighted stockpile concerns in the US, underscoring the fragility of any sustained de-escalation and the centrality of Oman-led talks in shaping momentum.