US, Iran Move to Salvage Hormuz Truce

According to a US official, the United States and Iran have agreed to halt the recent fighting in the Gulf, allow vessels to move freely and resume technical talks on the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.

The aim is to salvage the 14-point memorandum of 17 June, which was intended to reopen the strait to shipping and create space for negotiations on issues including Iran’s nuclear program.

The fragile truce has come under intense pressure in recent days following mutual attacks. Iran launched missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, while the US carried out further strikes on Iranian targets.

US President Donald Trump warned that if Tehran did not honor the agreement, “the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist”. Despite the escalation, Washington maintains that both sides are prepared to resume negotiations in Qatar.

The situation is further complicated by Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, which Iran describes as an obstacle to a broader peace settlement.

(Reuters, mja)