The United States and Iran are set to engage in practical negotiations in Doha, Qatar, aimed at halting military confrontations over the Strait of Hormuz. Concerns about a ceasefire breakdown have intensified following a series of attacks on civilian vessels and retaliatory airstrikes just ten days after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU). However, both sides have managed to avoid further escalation for the time being. The negotiations are complicated by differing views on who should manage maritime operations in the Strait.
On June 28, Axios reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that the U.S. and Iran agreed to cease military actions targeting each other. The official stated, "We have decided to halt all physical military operations," suggesting that this de-escalation could allow for the resumption of shipping traffic.
The two sides are scheduled to discuss issues related to the Strait of Hormuz on July 30 in Doha. Originally, the talks were planned to take place in Switzerland, focusing primarily on Iran's nuclear program. However, due to the recent resurgence of military clashes in the Strait, the venue has shifted to Qatar, with the agenda now centered on maritime navigation. Nick Stewart is expected to lead the U.S. delegation.
The recent clashes began on June 25 when Iran attacked a civilian vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the U.S. conducted airstrikes targeting Iranian facilities related to communications, surveillance, drones, and missiles along the Iranian coast. Iran retaliated by launching drones and missiles at U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.
On June 27, President Donald Trump warned on Truth Social that Iran had violated the agreement, stating, "There may come a time when we need to finish things militarily." Conversely, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran condemned the U.S. airstrikes as a violation of the ceasefire and hinted at the possibility of halting negotiations.
The core of the conflict lies in how maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz should be managed. The MOU stipulates that Iran is responsible for ensuring the safe passage of civilian vessels. However, interpretations of this provision differ. The U.S. believes it does not grant Iran control over the waterways and insists that freedom of navigation must be guaranteed for international vessels. In contrast, Iran claims that the responsibility for resuming traffic and maintaining order lies solely with them.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on June 28, "The management of vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and its complete normalization is Iran's responsibility. No other country or entity has authority over this issue." He also warned that attempts to bypass Iran's established procedures could lead to further attacks.
However, the U.S. has made it clear that it cannot accept Iran's unilateral claims to management. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated in a Fox News interview that if Iran believes it can continue attacking international shipping or U.S. bases without facing consequences, it is mistaken. He added that the U.S. will continue to neutralize facilities related to Iran's illegal attempts to control international waterways if necessary.
Preventive measures to avoid further clashes have yet to be implemented. During previous high-level talks in Switzerland, both sides agreed to establish a hotline between U.S. forces and the IRGC to prevent accidental confrontations in the Strait, but this has not yet been activated.
The instability in the Strait of Hormuz is also impacting energy markets. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the recovery of this critical shipping route for global oil transport is being delayed due to the ongoing clashes. Concerns about disruptions in Middle Eastern supply have resurfaced, leading to a rise of about 1% in the prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil on Asian markets on June 29.
The key issue in the upcoming Doha talks will be how to establish order for maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz. While both sides have agreed to halt military actions, the potential for renewed tensions remains if they cannot find common ground on navigation practices and route adjustments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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