The United States and Iran have agreed to halt further military attacks and resume negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to a US official.
The announcement follows a fresh round of retaliatory strikes between the two countries that threatened to derail a fragile Pakistan-brokered agreement designed to ease tensions in the region.
The conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted global energy markets, has placed renewed focus on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, The News Edition reports.
US, Iran to Resume Technical Negotiations
A US official told AFP on Sunday that technical discussions covering all aspects of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Washington and Tehran would continue.
“Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely,” the official said, referring to shipping activities in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
While Iran has yet to officially respond to the statement, the development signals a potential de-escalation after weeks of heightened tensions. The US official did not confirm reports suggesting that talks would resume in Qatar on Tuesday.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Major Flashpoint
Iran has continued to assert its authority over navigation through the strategic waterway, insisting that vessels follow routes designated by Tehran. The country gained significant leverage over maritime traffic during the conflict and appears unwilling to relinquish that influence.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any attempt by ships to bypass the routes approved by Tehran could increase regional tensions and delay efforts to fully reopen the strait.
“Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Araghchi said.
Although international law generally prevents Iran and Oman from blocking access to the strait or imposing tolls, Tehran’s control measures have repeatedly sparked confrontations with Washington.
Fresh Military Exchanges Raise Concerns
Tensions escalated again early Sunday when US Central Command announced strikes on 10 Iranian military targets, citing what it described as continued aggression against commercial shipping.
Iran responded by launching attacks on US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. Both Gulf nations condemned the strikes.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they would continue enforcing traffic regulations in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that vessels violating those rules could face stricter consequences.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said Iran’s control of the strategic waterway would prevent Washington from achieving what he described as its “hegemonic dreams” in the region.
Security analysts warn that further incidents in the strait remain likely despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
According to HA Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute in London, a prolonged negotiation process combined with controlled pressure in the Strait of Hormuz could serve Iran’s strategic interests.
While recent exchanges have largely avoided major casualties, Qatar confirmed that one of its citizens was killed after shrapnel from military operations struck a vessel in the area.
Israel-Hezbollah Tensions Add to Regional Instability
Elsewhere, tensions also intensified along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it had destroyed a large underground tunnel in southern Lebanon allegedly used by Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the tunnel stretched more than 200 metres and contained hundreds of weapons and multiple launch sites aimed at Israel.
Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes in the area, while Hezbollah condemned the operation, describing it as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Iran-backed group said it was monitoring developments closely and reserved the right to respond in defence of Lebanon and its people.
Lebanon became directly involved in the broader Middle East conflict in March after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against Israel in support of Iran, prompting Israeli airstrikes and a subsequent ground offensive.
Iran has consistently maintained that any comprehensive peace agreement for the Middle East must also address the situation in Lebanon.