U.S.-Iran Strikes Abate as Trump Administration Pulls Back from Escalation

The Trump administration has pulled back from major escalation in the U.S.-Iran war, with strikes abating as of late July 2026, per the New York Times. The de-escalation follows a June ceasefire that fractured when an Iranian missile and drone attack killed two on July 19. The Times frames the moment as a "crossroads" — whether this pause holds remains the open question.