WASHINGTON, June 29: The United States and Iran have agreed to halt military strikes and allow commercial vessels to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz as technical negotiations continue, according to U.S. officials cited by multiple media outlets.
A U.S. official told CBS News that technical talks with Iran are scheduled to continue, signaling that both sides are actively working to de-escalate tensions. The official also said vessels will be permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions.
ABC News, citing an unnamed U.S. official, similarly reported that Washington and Tehran had agreed to stop attacks and ensure freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway. The official said technical discussions covering all aspects of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) would continue but did not provide a timeline for future meetings.
The apparent diplomatic breakthrough comes at a critical moment, as the four-month conflict involving Iran has placed significant pressure on the global economy, driven up gasoline prices in the United States, and strained Washington’s diplomatic relationships with Israel and several European allies.
Tensions escalated Friday after Tehran asserted authority over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that safe passage through the vital shipping route would be guaranteed only for vessels coordinating directly with the Iranian government.
The warning followed accusations by President Donald Trump that Iran had targeted a commercial vessel near the Omani coast using a one-way attack drone.
In response, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that American forces had carried out a new round of retaliatory strikes against multiple Iranian military targets.
Trump also issued a sharply worded statement on Truth Social following the strikes.
“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!” Trump wrote.
He added, “It is very possible that they will never learn! There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”
Despite the warning, Iran launched missile and drone strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday, claiming the United States had violated the ceasefire framework. No casualties or injuries were reported.
Despite the weekend’s military exchanges, diplomatic channels have remained open.
Axios reported Sunday that U.S. and Iranian officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Qatar to resume technical negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
The talks are expected to carry added urgency because many provisions of the memorandum of understanding are set to expire after 60 days, although they can be extended by mutual agreement. (ANI)
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