Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged the Trump administration to maintain strict sanctions on Iran, arguing that Washington should starve the regime of money rather than ease up after a fragile ceasefire. Haley called for refusing to unfreeze Iranian assets and pressuring China and Russia to stop buying Iranian oil and supplying equipment to Tehran.

"Keep the sanctions on Iran. Don’t unfreeze their assets. Put the pressure on China and Russia to stop buying oil and supplying Iran with equipment," Haley wrote on X. She emphasized that the administration had done the bulk of the work and that reversing progress would be a waste, adding that Gulf states should support the pressure to stop Iran from accessing funds.

The post criticized the Trump administration’s recent memorandum of understanding with Iran, which ended hostilities, reopened the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and opened the door to sanctions relief talks. Haley’s comments came in response to conservative radio host Mark Davis, who argued that while skepticism about Iran honoring deals was logical, critics needed to name realistic alternatives to military action.

The United States and Iran agreed to halt retaliatory strikes and resume technical talks in Doha, Qatar. The talks aim to salvage a fragile 14-point interim peace memorandum signed on June 17 after a three-day burst of attacks across the Middle East. The latest conflict reignited after Tehran attacked a container ship, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defenses, drone storage sites, and minelayer capabilities.

Haley has consistently criticized U.S. outreach to Tehran, pointing to a surge in hangings of dissidents as evidence of the regime’s anti-American posture. Earlier this month, she backed U.S. strikes on Iran, stating that Iran would always play games, and called for increased pressure on Russia and China over their support for Tehran.

The United States and Iran have agreed to halt strikes and are set to hold talks later this week, according to Axios, citing U.S. officials. The development marks a notable shift in the diplomatic posture between the two nations, signaling a potential opening for dialogue amid ongoing regional tensions.

Key Details

The following summarizes the key parameters of this development as reported:

Diplomatic Significance

The agreement to cease strikes and engage in direct talks represents a significant diplomatic development between Washington and Tehran. U.S. officials confirmed the arrangement to Axios, underscoring the official nature of the understanding. The scheduled talks are expected to provide a formal channel for further engagement between the two sides.