The Iran war broadened over the weekend despite a pause in U.S.strikes, as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast and Iran accused Ukraine of targeting one of its vessels in the Caspian Sea.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The U.S.
military said on Saturday its naval blockade against Iran “remains in full effect” but did not explain why it halted a streak of 13 nights of escalating strikes.There were also no weekend reports of attacks by Iran on neighbors, similar to its daily rejoinders to the U.S.attacks.U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told NBC News’ Meet the Press that a pause in strikes was due to ongoing talks between the two countries.“What the president is doing right now, as we’ve seen all along, is giving some talks, some space,” he said.“Talks are ongoing.”Waltz added that, while talks were ongoing at the highest levels of the Iranian and U.S.
governments, there was “internal fighting” on the Iranian side.“Some are seeking the guidance of the supreme leader,” he said.
“Others want to move into a different direction, and that makes it hugely challenging.”Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S.intentions, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday.“Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations.
That message has already been conveyed to the United States,” the source told Reuters, a day after Washington halted attacks following 13 successive nights of air strikes.“There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks.The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine,” the source added.Trump has decided, for now, to back away from plans to ramp up att...