Washington and Tehran to "stand down" from strikes as talks set to continue, says US official
Washington, DC, June 29
Technical talks with Iran are scheduled to continue, indicating that both sides are actively working to de-escalate tensions, a US official told CBS News. Vessels will be allowed to move freely in the Strait of Hormuz, the official said.
Additionally ABC News quoting an unnamed US Official reported that U.S. and Iran have agreed to stop attacks and allow vessels to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz. The official said technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the memorandum of understanding, but did not provide further details on timing.
These signs of a potential breakthrough come at a critical juncture, given that the ongoing military conflict against Iran, which commenced four months ago, has placed significant stress on the global economy, triggered a spike in gas prices in the US, and severely strained America's diplomatic relations with Israel and its traditional European allies.
Tensions had peaked on Friday when Tehran asserted its authority over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, issuing a stern warning that safe passage through the vital waterway could only be guaranteed for maritime vessels that coordinated directly with the Iranian government.
This development closely followed accusations from President Donald Trump, who alleged that Iran had targeted a commercial vessel navigating near the coast of Oman, utilising a one-way attack drone.
In response to that maritime incident, US Central Command stated on Saturday that it had executed a fresh wave of retaliatory strikes against multiple Iranian targets.
Amplifying the military action with harsh rhetoric on the same day, Trump issued a severe threat concerning Iran's existence.
Taking to Truth Social, the President stated, "United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!"
He further 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!"
Defying the warning almost immediately, Iran launched military strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday, claiming that the US had breached the ceasefire framework, though no casualties or injuries were reported from the incidents.
Despite this volatile back-and-forth over the weekend, diplomatic channels have remained functional.
Meanwhile, Axios reported on Sunday that the two opposing sides are scheduled to convene on Tuesday in Qatar to resume technical talks concerning Iran's nuclear programme.
The upcoming discussions in Qatar will carry immediate urgency, as a significant number of provisions contained within the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are designed to last for only 60 days, though they remain eligible for extension through mutual agreement.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Technical talks in Qatar? That's promising but the 60-day MoU expiry clause is worrying. India has a delicate balance—we need Iranian oil but also rely on US goodwill. Hope the diplomats work faster than the missiles! 🙏
I appreciate the de-escalation signal, but Trump's threat to 'eliminate' Iran's existence is reckless, even for him. That kind of rhetoric only pushes Tehran to act more aggressively. And now Iran strikes Kuwait and Bahrain? This region is a powder keg. As a Westerner, I feel our leaders are playing with fire.
The Strait of Hormuz is like the jugular of global energy 🚢—every disruption sends shockwaves to India. Good that vessels can move freely again, but the underlying issue (Iran's nuclear ambitions) remains unresolved. Technical talks are fine, but we need a sustainable agreement. And please, both sides need to stop the kindergarten-level "he started it" back-and-forth!
Interesting that both sides are talking even after a weekend of strikes. That shows diplomacy is still alive. India should quietly support these talks—we need stability in the Gulf for our diaspora and energy security. But Trump's language ("complete the job") sounds like he's itching for war, not peace. Hope the Qatar talks yield real substance, not just temporary patches.
From a US perspective, I'm relieved cooler heads are prevailing. But can someone explain why we're still bombing after we supposedly agreed to 'stand down'? The mixed signals
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.