The United States and Iran have agreed to suspend military operations against each other and are expected to hold fresh talks in Qatar on Tuesday in an effort to reduce tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports citing senior American officials.
The latest diplomatic move follows several days of military exchanges despite a memorandum of understanding reached on 17 June, which was intended to ease hostilities that began in late February and affected commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Under the earlier agreement, Iran pledged to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States agreed to remove restrictions that had limited access to Iranian ports.
According to Axios, a senior US official said, "Both sides had decided to end all kinetic activity," referring to military strikes.”
Another American official said, "The two countries had agreed to stand down for now," adding that commercial vessels would be able to move freely while diplomatic discussions continue.
The report also said that officials from Washington and Tehran are scheduled to meet in Doha on Tuesday in an attempt to address the remaining disagreements over maritime security and regional stability.
CNN reported similar information, quoting a Trump administration official who said, "Both governments had agreed to pause military action temporarily and continue negotiations in the Qatari capital.”
The White House has not publicly commented on the reported agreement.
US President Donald Trump has continued to warn Iran against further military action.
Speaking on Saturday, he said that Iran would ‘no longer exist’ if the United States was forced to resume military operations.
The planned meeting in Qatar is expected to test whether both countries can preserve the fragile understanding and prevent renewed disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
Any lasting agreement could help reduce uncertainty in global energy markets, where developments in the Gulf region remain closely watched by governments, traders and investors.
