The US and Iran have agreed to ‘stand down’ following an exchange of strikes that threatened to unravel a ceasefire signed less than two weeks ago, a US official has told CBS News. The announcement came after several days of tit-for-tat attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides accusing each other of violating the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding they signed on 17 June.
The renewed violence began on Thursday when an Iranian projectile hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The US retaliated with a series of strikes on Iran, hitting multiple targets in what US Central Command called a direct response to “continued aggression” against commercial shipping. On Saturday, Iran responded by launching drones and missiles at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The US said none of the attacks reached their targets and there were no casualties or damage.
“US and Iran agree to stand down after exchange of strikes threatens ceasefire deal signed 17 June.”
The ceasefire, which included an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”, had already looked fragile. Under the MoU, Iran agreed to use its “best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days”. The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil and gas shipments, was effectively closed by Tehran after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran at the end of February.
Despite the stand-down, the path to a permanent deal remains unclear. On Monday, Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied that there were plans for technical talks this week. But US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner “will be flying to Doha for high-level meetings this week, as we continue to discuss the memorandum of understanding”.
The US official said vessels would now be able to move through the Gulf waterway “freely”, and that talks on a deal to permanently end the war would continue.
Elsewhere, the US on Friday mediated the signing of a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon to pave the way for lasting peace. But the leader of Hezbollah rejected the deal and accused the Lebanese government of undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. On Sunday, two days after the signing, the Israeli army said it had struck a 200-metre-long tunnel used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which it said contained hundreds of weapons.