US says it has agreed with Iran to "stand down" after trade attacks

2026-06-29 07:58:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US and Iran have agreed to "stand down" after an exchange of attacks in recent days, media reports say, citing a US official.

This comes after several attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which culminated in accusations from both countries of violating the ceasefire.

The official confirmed to the BBC's US partner, CBS News, that ships will now be able to move freely through this waterway and added that renewed talks aimed at ending the war will continue.

Iran has not commented on reports that it has agreed to stop attacks in the strait.

On June 17, the US and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which included an "immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts".

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, Iran had agreed to use its "best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels free of charge for 60 days."

But the ceasefire agreed less than two weeks ago has been under threat in recent days due to repeated attacks from both sides.

The attacks resumed on Thursday after an Iranian missile hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Over the weekend, the US retaliated with a series of attacks on Iran, striking multiple targets in what the US Central Command (Centcom) called a direct response to "continued aggression" against commercial shipping.

On Saturday, Iran responded with attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The US has said that neither of these attacks hit their targets and there were no casualties or damage.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for oil and gas shipments and was effectively closed by Tehran after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.

On Friday, the US also brokered the signing of a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at paving the way for a lasting peace.

Due to ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, even this ceasefire seemed unsustainable.

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group has rejected the deal and accused the Beirut government of undermining Lebanon's sovereignty.

On Sunday, two days after the agreement was signed, the Israeli military said it had struck a 200-meter-long tunnel used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which it said contained hundreds of weapons.

The US was informed before the attack, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Tehran says hostilities in Lebanon must stop for a broader ceasefire agreement to be implemented./CNA, translated by BBC