WASHINGTON — U.S. officials said on Friday that the United States has deliberately refrained from carrying out additional military strikes against Iran in recent hours to preserve space for diplomacy, as technical discussions between the two sides continue despite heightened tensions following this week's exchange of attacks.
Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said no new U.S. strikes had been launched while negotiators worked through technical issues related to ongoing diplomatic contacts. The officials said the pause reflected an effort to prevent further escalation while discussions continued through mediators.
The comments came days after the United States conducted a broad round of strikes on Iranian military targets following attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said earlier this week it had targeted dozens of sites linked to Iran's military capabilities, while Washington also reinstated sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports. Iran condemned those actions as violations of previous understandings and warned it would respond.
According to the U.S. officials, technical talks remain underway even as both governments continue to disagree publicly over several aspects of any broader agreement. The officials did not specify a timetable for concluding the discussions or whether higher-level political meetings had been scheduled.
The latest diplomatic effort follows weeks of intermittent military confrontation that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy transit routes. International concern over the conflict has focused on the risk of further disruption to global oil supplies and broader regional stability.
The United Nations has urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and preserve opportunities for dialogue. In remarks to the U.N. Security Council last week, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar said the recent decision by both sides to de-escalate offered "a measure of hope that dialogue and diplomacy can regain momentum," while warning that the situation remained fragile.
Neither the White House nor Iran's government announced a comprehensive breakthrough on Friday, and officials on both sides continued to maintain differing public positions on the path forward. U.S. officials said the absence of new strikes should not be interpreted as a permanent change in military posture but rather as an effort to allow diplomatic channels to continue operating while technical negotiations remain in progress.
