US President Trump on the 24th ordered US forces not to strike Iran, ending a
13-day run of strikes, US sources said. Qin Tian, deputy director of the Middle
East Institute at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations,
said the pause is likely a tactical adjustment rather than a strategic shift.
The duration of the halt, whether strikes will resume, or whether decisions to
escalate will recur remain uncertain. Qin said the move should produce a
short-term lull in US‑Iran military exchanges, but without a package solution
the relationship is likely to see repeated cycles of fighting and negotiations,
including compromises that may be difficult to implement.
