Trump pauses operations for Iran diplomacy as House leaders block vote

President Donald Trump has appeared to utilize America’s military strength as leverage to bring a stubborn Iranian regime back to the negotiating table, while pausing further U.S. and Israeli strikes to give diplomacy a final opportunity to succeed.

Trump’s willingness to combine maximum pressure with strategic pauses has kept Iran on the defensive and created the current window for indirect talks, conservative analysts say.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir arrived in Tehran to advance mediation efforts, following a preparatory visit by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Iranian officials claimed they received a revised American proposal through Pakistani channels and were currently reviewing it.

The day before, Trump also stated that he would give mediators “a couple of days” to secure Iran’s response, while making clear that the U.S. military stands ready to resume high-intensity operations if Tehran rejects reasonable terms.

 

Meanwhile, the president has been unequivocal that any lasting agreement must permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions — a non-negotiable red line he has maintained consistently.

Additionally, in Washington on Thursday, efforts to tie the president’s hands through the 1973 War Powers Resolution faced pushback. After four Republican senators broke ranks with Democrats to advance the measure in the Senate, House Republican leadership — recognizing the lack of votes to defeat it outright — pulled the resolution from the floor in the afternoon.

This effectively delays the challenge until June, preserving the administration’s flexibility during this critical diplomatic phase.

 

Trump directly confronted internal opposition, including public criticism from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), reinforcing his position that decisive executive action was both necessary and lawful. Notably, the White House and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have also strongly defended the administration’s legal authorities, emphasizing that periods of ceasefire have impacted the War Powers timeline.

Two fundamental demands define the current talks:

• Freedom of Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s attempt to control this vital global chokepoint through its newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) — including demands for permits and fees — has been firmly rejected by Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The United States insists the strait must remain fully open to international commerce without Iranian tolls or interference.

• Iran’s Nuclear Program: Trump has made it clear that preventing a nuclear-armed Iran is essential to any permanent deal. Hardline elements in Tehran continue to resist, but U.S. pressure has kept the regime from crossing critical thresholds.

With Congress temporarily sidelined and American forces positioned for rapid action if needed, the initiative remains firmly with President Trump. Iran is expected to deliver its formal response to the U.S. framework in the coming days.