The United States and Iran have agreed to suspend hostilities and hold high-level talks in Qatar on Tuesday in an effort to resolve their growing dispute over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following renewed tensions between the two countries.
According to Axios, the latest round of fighting erupted after Washington and Tehran disagreed over the interpretation of key provisions in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that brought their recent conflict to an end, particularly those concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
“We decided to cease all military activities,” a senior US official told Axios, referring to the suspension of military strikes and other combat operations as both sides seek to prevent further escalation.
Under the agreement, Iran pledged to make every possible effort to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States agreed to lift sanctions imposed on Iranian ports as part of the confidence-building measures.
During negotiations in Switzerland last week, US Vice President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation also agreed to establish a direct communication line between the US military and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to coordinate maritime traffic through the crucial waterway.
However, Axios reported that the communication channel had yet to become operational as of Saturday, even as Iran reiterated that ships must coordinate their passage before entering the strait.
The meeting, originally scheduled to take place in Switzerland to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, has now been relocated to Doha, Qatar. With tensions flaring once again, the focus of the talks has shifted to ensuring stability and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier on Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations between Washington and Tehran had reached an impasse following the renewed outbreak of hostilities, highlighting the fragile nature of the ceasefire despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
