Sertac Aktan & Euronews with AFP
US and Iran agree to halt strikes and hold talks in Qatar on Tuesday over Strait of Hormuz tensions, US media reports.
The United States and Iran have agreed to halt their military strikes and will hold high-level talks in Qatar on Tuesday in an urgent effort to rescue their fragile peace agreement, American media reported, citing senior US officials.
The breakthrough comes after days of escalating military exchanges that threatened to derail an interim memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June, which aimed to end the conflict that began in late February and disrupted shipping through the vital waterway.
Under that agreement, Tehran committed to allow safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz while Washington agreed to lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
‘Ships can pass freely, for now’
“We decided to stop all the kinetic activity,” a senior US official told media outlet Axios on Sunday, using a military term for strikes.
A second American official told Axios both sides will stand down “for now” and that “vessels can move freely” as talks are set to continue.
Both US officials and a third source with knowledge confirmed Tuesday’s meeting in Qatar, Axios said.
CNN reported matching comments from a Trump administration official, confirming that the two sides have agreed to meet in Doha on Tuesday for further discussions.
The venue moved from Switzerland to Qatar
US President Donald Trump has maintained a firm stance throughout the friction. On Saturday, Trump repeated his warnings of total military action if Iranian attacks on shipping resume, stating that Iran would “no longer exist” if the US is “forced” to restart the war.
According to diplomatic sources, Tuesday’s meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Switzerland to address broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme. However, following the dangerous spike in military confrontations over the weekend, the venue was shifted to Qatar, and the agenda was narrowed specifically to the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.
