Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jun 29: The United States and Iran have reportedly agreed to suspend military activity around the Strait of Hormuz and continue negotiations aimed at sustaining a fragile ceasefire, easing immediate concerns over a wider regional conflict while leaving key differences unresolved over the management of the strategic waterway.
According to reports published by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post, officials from both countries indicated on Sunday that diplomatic and technical discussions would continue after several days of military exchanges that had disrupted maritime traffic and heightened tensions across the Gulf.
A US official, quoted by both The New York Times and The Washington Post, said both sides had agreed to halt attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz, allowing commercial shipping to gradually resume.
The reported understanding is expected to serve as the basis for implementing a broader memorandum aimed at preserving the ceasefire, although Iranian authorities have not yet formally confirmed the arrangement.
The latest diplomatic efforts come after four days of escalating hostilities triggered by attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Washington blamed Tehran for the incidents and launched strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks targeting US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait. According to US officials, the incoming projectiles were either intercepted or failed to hit their intended targets.
Despite the apparent reduction in military tensions, both countries continue to disagree over control and administration of the vital shipping route.
Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained that responsibility for regulating maritime traffic through the Strait rests solely with Iran under the memorandum reached with Washington earlier this month.
He warned that any outside intervention or alternative security arrangements would complicate implementation of the agreement, delay the restoration of normal shipping operations and prolong instability in the region.
The United States, however, has reiterated that ensuring freedom of navigation through international waters remains a non-negotiable priority.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz cautioned that Washington would respond forcefully if commercial vessels came under attack again, stating that the US would not tolerate continued threats to international shipping.
President Donald Trump also adopted a stern tone, warning Tehran that further provocations could invite a stronger military response. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that while the US had shown restraint, it was prepared to take additional action if necessary.
The recent confrontation briefly affected global energy markets by disrupting commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors, through which nearly one-fifth of global seaborne oil supplies pass.
Although shipping has begun moving cautiously following the reported understanding, international markets continue to closely monitor developments in the Gulf.
Reports indicate that Washington and Tehran now intend to broaden the dialogue beyond the immediate ceasefire, with upcoming negotiations expected to focus on ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade and addressing long-standing concerns surrounding Iran's nuclear programme.