The United States and Iran have agreed to halt strikes against each other and to hold technical talks this week in Doha, Qatar, according to a report from Axios, which cited senior U.S. officials. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and will focus on resolving a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz that contributed to a recent flare-up in hostilities.
A senior U.S. official stated that both sides decided to stop all kinetic activity. A second U.S. official added that the parties will stand down for now, with vessels able to move freely while technical talks continue.
Both officials, along with a third source with knowledge of the matter, confirmed the planned Tuesday meeting.
The agreement follows an exchange of strikes over the weekend. On Saturday, the U.S. military conducted strikes on multiple targets in Iran in response to what it described as continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping, including a reported drone attack on a cargo ship. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps then stated it had struck U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain early Sunday.
These actions occurred against the backdrop of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed earlier in June that extended a ceasefire and set a 60-day period for negotiations on a broader agreement. Under the MOU, Iran committed to making its best efforts to allow safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. In exchange, the United States lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
The recent hostilities stemmed from differing interpretations of the MOU’s terms regarding the strait. During negotiations in Switzerland last week, led by U.S. Vice President Vance, the two sides agreed to establish a hotline between the U.S. military and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to coordinate maritime traffic in the strait. As of Saturday, however, the hotline had not become operational, and Iran had resumed claims that ships require coordination for passage.
The Tuesday meeting in Doha was originally planned to take place in Switzerland and to address Iran’s nuclear program. Due to the escalation, the venue was changed and the focus shifted to the Strait of Hormuz dispute. Nick Stewart, who heads the U.S. technical team, is expected to participate in the talks.
Sunday’s developments build on earlier diplomatic steps taken in recent days and weeks. The MOU itself followed an initial ceasefire agreed in April and extended in June, creating a framework for addressing multiple issues, including sanctions relief, nuclear matters, and regional security. The establishment of the coordination hotline during the Switzerland talks represented a concrete mechanism aimed at reducing risks in the strait.
