Trump Pumps the Brakes on Iran Strikes as Qatar Races a Draft Deal to Tehran

The strikes are on pause. Trump said Monday he sees no reason to rush back into bombing Iran while US-Iran negotiations keep moving, and he claimed Tehran has come around to wanting a deal — including a recent admission that it won't pursue nuclear weapons, according to Cointelegraph.

There's a striking concession in the mix too. Trump said the US will stop killing Iranian leaders at Tehran's request, a signal that both sides are trading de-escalation for progress at the table rather than trading fire.

The diplomacy has legs. Qatari mediators headed to Tehran on Monday night to work through a draft agreement, putting a Gulf state at the center of a conflict it has spent years trying to cool down.

Markets noticed fast. Oil fell nearly 7% as traders priced in a smaller chance of the conflict reigniting — a drop that hands drivers and businesses a little relief while handing energy bulls a bad day.

Not everyone is convinced it holds. The Times reports Iran could hit US bases in Europe and undersea cables if the attacks resume, a reminder that the quiet is a choice, not a guarantee.

For now the shooting has stopped, the talking has started, and Washington is betting the draft deal beats the alternative. Whether Tehran signs on — and whether the pause survives the next round of talks — is the whole ballgame.