U.S. and Iran agree to 60-day halt in fighting
The United States and Iran have agreed to suspend hostilities for 60 days. Officials described the pause as a step toward potential talks on nuclear issues and regional stability.
globalresearch.caThe pause follows weeks of military exchanges that closed the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted energy and fertilizer markets.
Background to the agreement The 2015 nuclear accord had previously limited Iran's uranium stockpile by 98 percent and capped enrichment levels. Officials said the new arrangement seeks to restore elements of that framework after the earlier deal was set aside.
Leaked drafts indicated differing interpretations of the terms. U.S. officials told Reuters that asset unfreezing and trade relief would depend on compliance, while Iranian sources described oil waivers and a broader halt to hostilities, including in Lebanon.
Next steps and enforcement The first test cited by officials is whether the pause can be maintained and enforced on all parties. Reports of drone activity in parts of Lebanon and statements from the Israeli cabinet indicated reluctance among some regional actors.
Iranian sources described the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a concession requiring compensation and sanctions relief. U.S. officials framed the same step as evidence of compliance. The measure of success, according to the reporting, will be whether the next two months produce a verifiable nuclear settlement.
