Iran and U.S. Appear to Pause Strikes for a Night After Trump Talks of ‘Massive Attack’

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For the first time in nearly two weeks, U.S. Central Command did not announce new overnight strikes in Iran, marking a pause in the escalating conflict as President Donald Trump recently said he was considering a new “massive attack.”

The United States unleashed 13 straight days of strikes on Iran after a memorandum of understanding between the two nations, which was supposed to include a ceasefire, fell apart.

There were also no reported new strikes from Iran on American targets in the region, according to reports, though the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center did issue a warning Saturday after an apparent incident between a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. The group did not detail the incident.

“Vessels are advised to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving operational environment. Authorities are aware and relevant investigations remain ongoing,” the UKMTO cautioned.

While no new strikes were reported, an apparent new front was opened in the conflict Saturday when Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked two oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, in the cities of Yanbu and Jizan, according to Fox News.

Saudi Arabia answered the Houthi hostilities, with Saudi Major General Turki Al-Malki announcing Saturday the country had made a “a firm, resolute, and proportionate military response.”

The apparent pause in airstrikes came a day after Trump told Axios reporter Barak Ravid Thursday that he was mulling military strikes that would go beyond anything carried out since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28.

The president told the outlet he had not yet made a final decision.

“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump said, adding of Iran, “They haven’t received enough pain yet.”

The reported pause also came a day after Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office and refused to answer a direct questions as to whether blowing up bridges, power plants and water desalination facilities constitutes a war crime.

Trump refused to answer when asked if blowing up civilian sites in Iran constituted a war crime.

“I won’t respond to that question,” the president told Shawn McCreesh of The New York Times.

Four American troops were recently killed in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 18 since the war began.

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