US, Iran agree to halt strikes, hold talks this week in Doha: Report

The US and Iran have agreed to suspend all 'kinetic activity' while technical negotiations continue over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios.

In Short

• Both sides suspended military actions near Strait of Hormuz, says Axios
• Recent strikes by Iran and US push ceasefire to the edge of collapse
• Disputes over shipping rules in the strait sparked fresh strikes

The United States and Iran have reportedly agreed to stop attacking each other and will hold high-level talks in Qatar on Tuesday in a renewed attempt to rescue their fragile peace agreement after days of escalating military exchanges threatened to derail the breakthrough.

According to Axios, both sides have agreed to suspend all 'kinetic activity' while technical negotiations continue over the Strait of Hormuz. The development comes barely 11 days after Washington and Tehran announced the interim agreement to end months of conflict.

The truce was quickly thrown into doubt after both countries exchanged fresh strikes over competing interpretations of the deal.

Despite the latest violence, officials from both sides are now expected to meet in Doha in an effort to stabilise the agreement and prevent another military escalation.

DOHA TALKS AIM TO REVIVE FRAGILE TRUCE

Senior US officials confirmed that Washington and Tehran had agreed to suspend military operations ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

"We decided to stop all the kinetic activity," one senior US official told Axios.

A second official said both sides would stand down "for now" and added that "vessels can move freely" while technical discussions continue.

The meeting was initially planned in Switzerland as part of broader negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. However, after fresh military exchanges over the weekend, diplomats shifted the venue to Doha and narrowed the agenda to resolving disputes surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Nick Stewart, who heads the US technical team, is expected to participate in the discussions. The White House has not publicly commented on the planned negotiations.

STRAIT OF HORMUZ REMAINS BIGGEST FLASHPOINT

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central obstacle to implementing the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Iran committed to making its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping through the waterway. In return, the United States agreed to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

To avoid future confrontations, negotiators meeting in Switzerland last week also agreed to establish a direct military "hotline" between US forces and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to coordinate maritime traffic through the strait.

However, US officials said the communication channel had still not become operational by the weekend.

At the same time, Tehran resumed insisting that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz coordinate directly with Iranian authorities, a position Washington believes goes beyond the original understanding reached during negotiations.

Those differing interpretations quickly became the trigger for the latest military confrontation.

NEW STRIKES PUSHED CEASEFIRE TO THE BRINK

The diplomatic breakthrough follows one of the most dangerous weekends since the ceasefire was announced. Iran launched missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain after Washington carried out strikes on Iranian military facilities.

The United States said its operation targeted missile and drone infrastructure, coastal radar installations and other military assets after Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to," US Central Command said.

The command said the strikes were carried out "in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping."

Iran rejected that account and accused Washington of violating the agreement.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its missile and drone attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain were retaliation for American strikes and warned they would halt diplomatic efforts if violations continued.

A US official said there were no reported American casualties or major damage to military facilities.

Kuwait said its air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles, while Bahrain reported limited damage to a residential building but no casualties.

TRUMP WARNED OF FURTHER MILITARY ACTION

The renewed confrontation unfolded shortly after President Donald Trump warned Tehran that Washington was prepared to resume military operations if Iran failed to honour the agreement.

"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," Trump wrote on social media.

"If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!"

The remarks came as both countries accused each other of breaching the memorandum signed earlier this month.

LEBANON AND GAZA ADD TO PRESSURE

The regional situation has also complicated efforts to preserve the agreement.

Israel carried out fresh strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon over the weekend, despite a separate ceasefire framework between Israel and Lebanon.

Iran argued that the broader US-Iran understanding required fighting to stop across all fronts, including Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of violating the agreement and said Washington bore responsibility for ensuring Israel complied.

He also warned against any attempt to challenge Tehran's role in managing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, saying such moves would increase tensions and delay the full reopening of one of the world's busiest energy shipping lanes.

Meanwhile, military operations continued in Gaza, where Palestinian authorities reported additional casualties.

WHAT COMES NEXT

The Doha meeting is expected to focus first on resolving operational disagreements over commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz before negotiators return to wider issues such as Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and the longer-term implementation of the peace agreement.

The outcome could determine whether the memorandum of understanding survives its first major crisis.

For now, both Washington and Tehran appear to have stepped back from the brink, choosing diplomacy over another cycle of military retaliation. Whether that pause develops into a lasting settlement may depend on what emerges from the negotiating table in Doha this week.

- Ends
With inputs from agencies