Trump Halts Iran Strikes Amid Diplomatic Push; IRGC Warns of Global Escalation

The White House has signaled a temporary shift toward diplomacy in the escalating conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump announced he was 'an hour away' from ordering new military strikes on Monday evening but stayed the order after Gulf allies intervened. These partners reportedly informed the administration that 'serious negotiations' are currently underway, leading the President to grant a window of at least two to three days for diplomatic efforts to yield results. Simultaneously, Vice President JD Vance clarified the administration's stance, stating that the U.S. remains 'locked and loaded' should diplomacy fail to meet the core demand of preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon. Despite this military readiness, Vance stressed that a military path is not the current plan and that officials have been instructed to 'aggressively negotiate' a settlement. Tensions remain high as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) escalated its rhetoric, warning that any resumption of U.S. or Israeli strikes would trigger retaliation in locations 'beyond the region.' On the domestic front, the U.S. Senate took a rare procedural step toward limiting executive war powers, while the Treasury Department ramped up economic pressure by sanctioning 19 ships and several financial networks tied to Iranian interests.