U.S. and Iran pause fighting to give peace talks 'space.' Here's where negotiations stand

A woman walks past war-themed graffiti and murals painted on walls along the capital Tehran's streets and avenues as air defense systems are activated during the night while daily life continues in the shadow of rising military tensions between the US and Iran on July 22, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu | Getty ImagesA temporary hiatus to hostilities between the U.S. and Iran appeared to hold on Monday, after negotiations over a lasting peace faced fresh hurdles over the weekend. The U.S. military brought a halt to two weeks of strikes on Friday as diplomats sought to give peace talks "some space." Iran, which has also refrained from military operations against regional targets in recent days, has said it will reciprocate following a China-led push to resume stalled diplomatic efforts in Pakistan.However, other actors did undertake military action related to the conflict over the weekend, highlighting the risk of further escalation and the complex challenges facing negotiators. The Saudi military conducted strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen following the rebel group's attacks on Red Sea shipping in recent days.Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military reportedly...