Tanzania, July 26 -- Washington. US President Donald Trump has ordered the military to halt planned airstrikes on Iran after 13 consecutive days of attacks, signalling a possible shift towards diplomacy even as fighting continues across the Middle East.

The decision, first reported by Axios and confirmed by The New York Times, came amid growing concerns within the Trump administration that a wider conflict could rapidly deplete US air defence missile stockpiles and further destabilise the region.

According to the reports, Trump withheld approval for a new round of strikes on Friday, breaking nearly two weeks of daily US military operations against Iranian targets. The move surprised Israeli officials, who had expected further attacks an...