Iran and the United States have agreed to halt recent hostilities in the Gulf and resume negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official, offering renewed hope that an interim peace agreement can still be preserved despite several days of escalating military confrontation.
The official said both sides had agreed to temporarily stand down while technical discussions continue on all aspects of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 17.
“Technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the MOU. Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely,” the official said, referring to the agreement aimed at reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
According to Axios, which first reported the development citing a senior US official, the next round of negotiations is expected to begin on Tuesday in Qatar.
Escalation Threatened the Interim Peace Deal
The renewed diplomatic push follows several days of military exchanges that placed the interim ceasefire under severe strain.
The latest escalation began after an Iranian projectile struck a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. Since then, both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the June 17 ceasefire agreement.
Early Sunday, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain. The attacks came shortly after US President Donald Trump warned that the Islamic Republic could face overwhelming military action if it failed to comply with the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the US military said it had carried out additional strikes against Iran, while Israel announced fresh military operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, saying it had destroyed underground infrastructure used by the Iran-backed group.
Trump Warns of Further Military Action
Before reports of the renewed diplomatic breakthrough emerged, President Trump issued a stern warning on social media, saying the United States could be forced to intensify its military campaign if Iran failed to honor the agreement.
“There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started,” Trump wrote.
He further warned that continued violations could have severe consequences for Iran, underscoring the fragile nature of the ceasefire despite ongoing diplomatic contacts.
Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed again after Israel strikes Lebanon
Military Exchanges Continue Despite Peace Efforts
Despite the diplomatic initiative, military activity continued across the region.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its naval and air forces launched missile and drone attacks on US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, arguing that earlier American strikes had violated the ceasefire and jeopardized diplomatic efforts.
A US official confirmed that American military facilities had been targeted but said there were no reported US casualties or significant damage, adding that authorities were continuing to assess the situation.
Bahrain later reported that an Iranian strike damaged a residential building in Muharraq province, although no casualties were recorded. The Bahraini government called on the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session over the incident.
The Kuwaiti military also announced that its air defense systems successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles without causing casualties or damage.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Negotiations
The June 17 interim agreement was designed to halt fighting, restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and create space for negotiations on broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Although one round of mediated talks involving senior US and Iranian officials had already taken place in Switzerland and Washington had eased certain sanctions on Tehran, renewed military exchanges had cast doubt over the future of the agreement.
Separately, Qatar reported that one of its citizens died after sustaining injuries from shrapnel aboard a vessel affected by military operations in the region, while another person was injured. Authorities did not specify the exact location of the incident or assign responsibility.
The agreement to suspend hostilities and restart negotiations is expected to ease immediate tensions, but its long-term success will depend on whether both sides adhere to their commitments and maintain diplomatic engagement in the coming days.
