Trump is giving Iran talks 'a little bit of room,' as Tehran says it will 'halt strikes' as long as pause in attacks continues

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Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the United Nations, revealed the motive for the weekend lull in fighting between Iran and the United States.

However, he did not reveal any details of potential talks.

"He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room," Mr Waltz told Fox News.

The Pentagon paused bombing operations after 13 nights of escalating strikes and there were no weekend reports of attacks by Iran on its neighbours.

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Asked about the pause, a senior official in ​Trump's administration said on Saturday that the president "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come ​to the table in a serious way."

In response, Iran said it will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of US intentions.

"Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations. That message has already been conveyed to the United States," a senior Iranian official told Reuters, a day after Washington halted attacks.

"There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine."

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian media outlet Tasnim revealed that an oil tanker exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with a naval mine.

Tasnim said the tanker struck the mine after leaving the route designated by Iran in the strategic waterway.

There was no immediate official statement from Iranian authorities regarding the incident.