The U.S. and Iran will mutually suspend attacks and will continue , despite the resumption of hostilities in recent days.
“Technical discussions are expected to continue on all issues covered by the memorandum of understanding. The two sides will cease (attacks) for the time being, and ships will be able to navigate freely” in the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters, an unnamed U.S. official explained to the French Press Agency yesterday evening, Sunday, via email.
He did not confirm reports in the U.S. media that a meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials is being organized for tomorrow, Tuesday, in Qatar.
Tehran has not responded at this stage.
According to a report by the news website Axios yesterday, Sunday, Iran and the U.S. agreed to stop exchanging attacks “for the time being” and their representatives are now scheduled to meet in Qatar on Tuesday to try to resolve their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz. The website cites sources within the administration of Donald Trump.
Despite the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” which was signed on June 17, the armed forces of the two countries have exchanged fire in recent days and accused each other of ceasefire violations, with control of the strategically important sea route at the heart of the tensions. “We have decided to halt all kinetic operations,” a source at the U.S. government told the website, using a U.S. military term for carrying out strikes.
A second U.S. official told the same outlet that the two sides agreed to stop exchanging attacks “for the time being” and that commercial ships would once again be able to “navigate freely” through the strait, while negotiations for a lasting end to the war would continue.
The two sources, along with a third, said that Iranians and Americans will meet tomorrow in Qatar, according to the report.
CNN reported similar statements from a Trump administration official.
The White House has not responded at this stage.
Under the terms of the agreement in principle, Iran committed to allowing the safe and unimpeded passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. committed to lifting the blockade of Iranian ports in the
On Saturday night, U.S. President Trump resumed his threats, stating that he was considering ordering a resumption of the war to “finish the job” and that Iran “would cease to exist” if he made such a decision.
