US Pauses Iran Bombing as Pentagon Admits Arsenal Running Low – A Tactical Retreat or a Genuine Pause?
By Zanele Mokoena
The United States has paused its bombing campaign against Iran after 13 nights of relentless airstrikes. But the reason is not a sudden change of heart. According to US officials, the pause came because the Pentagon was running out of targets and worrying about depleting its arsenal. This is not a victory for diplomacy. It is a moment of imperial exhaustion.
Iran, for its part, has also halted its attacks on neighbouring countries. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran's position remains clear: 'attack for attack.' If the US stops, Iran stops. That message has been conveyed directly to Washington.
Why Did the US Really Pause?
US military officials have cautioned that the bombing campaign, which was meant to deter Iranian threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, had largely exhausted the pre-selected sets of targets. One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned President Trump that resuming major combat operations would carry significant risk given the negative impact on stocks of munitions. This includes interceptors used by US air defences in the Middle East.
On NBC's Meet the Press, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the US military 'has everything that it needs,' but also admitted that when Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth took over, he 'inherited a depleted situation.' This contradiction reveals a deeper truth: the US war machine is not as invincible as it pretends to be.
Iran’s Scepticism: A Tactical Pause, Not a Genuine Shift
The senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran does not hold much hope that Trump's decision to pause strikes represents a major shift in the US negotiating position. 'There is more scepticism than optimism about the halt in attacks. The prevailing view is that the pause is tactical rather than genuine. Iran has accumulated enough bitter experience with what it sees as US deception,' the source said.
This scepticism is well-founded. The US has a long history of using pauses to regroup, rearm, and then strike again with greater force. For the Global South, and for those of us who have lived through the lies of Western intervention, this pattern is all too familiar.
The Human Cost of Imperial Games
While the US and Iran play their deadly chess game, ordinary people are caught in the crossfire. The bridge linking Bandar Abbas and Kehuristan was rendered unusable after a US strike. Residents of Iran remain apprehensive. Nader, a 49-year-old import-export business owner in Tehran, told Reuters: 'Everyone in the country is stuck in limbo. Trump is playing games with Iran. He neither ends the war and leaves the region nor strikes decisively. It's exhausting.'
This is the reality of US imperialism: endless war, endless suffering, and endless lies about 'diplomacy.' The pause is not peace. It is a tactical retreat born of logistical weakness, not moral awakening.
What Does This Mean for the Global South?
For South Africans and for all people who have suffered under colonialism and apartheid, this moment should be a reminder that the so-called 'rules-based international order' is a fiction. The US bombs, pauses, and bombs again, all while lecturing others about sovereignty and human rights. Iran, like many nations in the Global South, is fighting for its right to exist without being dictated to by Western powers.
The renewed US military campaign effectively torpedoed last month's interim agreement aimed at ending the war. This is a pattern: when diplomacy threatens to succeed, the US finds a reason to escalate. The Global South must learn from this. We cannot rely on the goodwill of empires. We must build our own alliances, our own defences, and our own futures.
FAQ: Key Questions About the US-Iran Pause
Is the pause a sign of peace?
No. The pause is a tactical decision driven by logistical constraints, not a genuine commitment to diplomacy. Iran remains sceptical, and the US has not withdrawn its forces from the region.
What does Iran want?
Iran wants the US to stop its attacks. Its position is simple: 'attack for attack.' If the US stops, Iran stops. But Tehran does not trust Washington's intentions.
Could the war resume?
Yes. US military officials have said that resuming major combat operations remains an option. The pause is not a ceasefire; it is a timeout.
How does this affect the Global South?
This conflict is a stark reminder that Western powers continue to wage war on nations of the Global South. It underscores the need for solidarity among countries that have been historically oppressed by imperialism.
Photo: Reuters