WASHINGTON: The United States and Iran have agreed to stop all military attacks “for now” and will meet this week to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, officials from both sides confirmed.
A senior US official told Axios on Sunday: “We decided to stop all the kinetic activity”. Tehran and Washington will stand down so that “vessels can move freely” through the waterway. A meeting in Doha is planned for Tuesday to focus on Hormuz.
The move comes after tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes late last week, the first since a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed on June 17. The MOU had called for the Strait to reopen and for Iran to allow safe passage of commercial vessels for 60 days without charge.
Tensions flared again after Iran fired drones at ships in the Strait on Thursday, which the US called a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire. The US responded with strikes on Iranian sites along Hormuz and Qeshm Island, while the IRGC said it targeted US positions in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Vice President JD Vance said Washington had honored the agreement and warned “violence will be met with violence”. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran retains authority over the strait and any challenge “will lead to more complicated situations”.
Both sides have now set up a direct communication channel to prevent further escalation at sea. The White House has not yet commented publicly.
