U.S. and Iran Pull Back From Attacks Over Strait of Hormuz

com reported. President Donald Trump announced on social media Monday that Iran had requested a meeting and that technical teams would resume talks in Qatar on Tuesday. Iran stated midday Monday that the technical talks had yet to be confirmed.

A 14-point memorandum of understanding agreed to on June 17 requires a full opening of the strait for 60 days amid negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and can be extended by mutual consent. The text requires Iran to apply its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only and states that Iran will conduct dialog with Oman to define future administration of the strait.

Iran closed the strait after the United States and Israel jointly launched surprise attacks against Iran on February 28.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that shipping through the strait would return to prewar capacity within 30 days under Iranian management and the terms of the memorandum. Some 48 vessels passed through the strait between June 26 and June 28, according to Al Jazeera’s Open Source Unit analysis.

The average daily number prior to the war was 130 or more, and 78 vessels transited on June 24, the day before the latest exchanges began, the Associated Press reported.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday he expected the release of $6 billion worth of the $12 billion in Iran’s frozen assets held in the Qatar Central Bank. U.S. officials state that any release of Iran’s frozen funds will be spent exclusively on American goods and for humanitarian purposes.

The memorandum also requires a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. A secret annex to a deal signed between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on June 26 reportedly indicates Israel has no plans or obligation to withdraw from Lebanon in the near future, according to leaked text reported by Israeli media.