KABUL (Pajhwok): Iran and the United States have agreed to halt recent hostilities in the Gulf and resume diplomatic talks over their dispute in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official said on Sunday, raising hopes of stabilising a fragile interim understanding, according to Reuters.
The official said “technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the memorandum of understanding” and that both sides would “stand down for now,” allowing vessels to move freely through the strategic waterway.
Axios, citing a senior US official, reported that negotiations are expected to resume on Tuesday in Qatar.
The development follows several days of escalating strikes and counterstrikes after an Iranian projectile hit a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of violating a June 17 ceasefire framework.
Iran reportedly launched missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday, shortly after US President Donald Trump issued warnings over compliance with the agreement.
Meanwhile, Israel said it had struck Iran-backed Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, targeting underground infrastructure, following earlier attacks linked to ceasefire tensions in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route, has remained highly volatile throughout the conflict, with repeated attacks on vessels and military sites.
Trump, meanwhile, warned that further escalation could lead to a decisive military response, saying Iran “will no longer exist” if it failed to honour the agreement.
sa
