US and Iran agree to halt strikes, resume talks in Doha

The United States and Iran have agreed to a temporary halt in hostilities and will resume technical talks in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, according to a US official. The agreement comes after a weekend of tit-for-tat strikes that threatened the fragile June 17 interim peace deal.

What happened

The escalation began on Thursday when an Iranian projectile struck a Singapore-flagged container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The US retaliated on Friday and Saturday with strikes on Iranian military targets, including missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar. Iran responded on Saturday and Sunday by launching drones and missiles at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Source: CNN Kuwait said its air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles, and Bahrain reported damage to a residential building near the airport but no casualties. Source: NPR On Sunday, a US official stated that "both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely" in the Strait of Hormuz. Source: DW The official added that technical talks on all areas of the MOU would continue. Axios first reported the cessation of hostilities. Source: ground-news

The stand-down agreement

While US officials confirm the deal, Iran has not publicly commented on halting strikes. A US official told the BBC's partner CBS News that renewed talks aimed at ending the war will continue. Source: BBC However, Iran had earlier canceled technical talks scheduled for Sunday, citing unfulfilled conditions of the MOU, including access to unfrozen funds. Source: CNA The agreement appears fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.

Broader tensions

The conflict is compounded by violence in southern Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire despite a recent framework agreement. Iran says hostilities in Lebanon must end for a wider ceasefire to hold. Source: BBC Tehran's continued insistence on sole control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a key sticking point. Source: The Guardian

Key points

• The US and Iran agreed to "stand down" after a weekend of strikes. Source: DW
• Technical talks resume Tuesday in Doha. Source: CNN
• Iran's position on the halt is unconfirmed, and negotiations remain tense. Source: CNA