US, Iran Agree To One-Week Strait Of Hormuz De-Escalation Ahead Of America’s 250th Anniversary

The United States and Iran have agreed to a one-week de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz to avoid further military clashes while indirect negotiations continue in Qatar, offering temporary relief for one of the world’s busiest and most important shipping routes.

The agreement is intended to keep the situation calm while technical teams from both countries work on a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) through talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.

The pause also comes ahead of US Independence Day celebrations and funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

“We have reached an understanding that we will keep things quiet for the coming week, so progress on all aspects of the MOU can be worked on in a productive environment, without missiles flying,” a US official told Axios.

The agreement follows a sharp rise in tensions last week after Iran struck a vessel sailing near Oman. The United States responded by attacking Iranian missile and drone storage sites along the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the temporary calm, the two countries remain divided over who should control shipping through the strategic waterway.

Iran says it has the authority to regulate maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and wants the right to charge transit fees once current temporary arrangements end.

The Trump administration rejects that claim, saying the strait is an international waterway and Iran cannot impose fees on passing ships.

The dispute has become one of the biggest hurdles in broader negotiations between the two countries, with US officials urging Iran to drop its demands in return for the economic benefits of a wider agreement.

According to the reported memorandum of understanding, Iran will work with Oman to “define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussions with other Persian Gulf Littoral States.”

However, Washington and Tehran interpret that language differently.

US officials believe the wording prevents Iran from charging transit fees because other Gulf countries would not accept such a move. Iran, however, sees it as recognising its authority over the waterway while calling for discussions with other regional countries.

IRGC-affiliated Fars News, citing an unidentified source, reported that the memorandum was changed during the final stage of negotiations to clearly emphasise “the Iranian-Omani sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.”

The source also claimed that the term “maritime services” means the United States has accepted that Iran will eventually receive transit fees.

American officials, including President Donald Trump, have rejected that interpretation and continue to oppose any Iranian tolls or fees on ships using the strait.

US Vice President JD Vance said technical discussions involving US, Iranian and regional officials were moving forward.

“The U.S. technical team is sitting down with the Iranians, with the Qataris, and with others in Doha… ensuring that we continue to make the progress,” Vance said. “It’s still pretty early, but talks are going well,” he added.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led Tehran’s technical delegation, said there had been no direct talks with the United States and that all communication took place through Qatari and Pakistani mediators.

He said the two sides agreed to set up an emergency communication channel to deal with any alleged violations of the memorandum.

He also said the talks covered Iran’s frozen assets in Qatar, with an agreement that needed goods would be purchased and delivered to Iran based on its requests.

Separately, the Associated Press reported that US and Iranian negotiators met separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators in Doha on Wednesday, where Qatar said “positive progress” had been made.

Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said the next round of talks would be held “at the earliest possible time” after the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former supreme leader.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, were in Doha for the talks alongside Gharibabadi.

Negotiators are trying to finalise technical details before political leaders consider a broader agreement, although differences over the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon remain unresolved.

According to the Associated Press, the talks also covered Lebanon and regional security. Gharibabadi said discussions through mediators focused on Lebanon and the return of some of Iran’s frozen assets.

Iran has called for an end to fighting involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces and has demanded that Israel withdraw from territory it occupies in southern Lebanon. Israel says it must keep control of the area and maintain the ability to act against Hezbollah.

Separately, the Associated Press reported that a foreign container ship recently ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz after using a route that Iran said had not been approved.

Iranian state television said the ship became stranded after entering shallow waters and stressed that vessels should follow the instructions of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard while passing through the strait.

The Revolutionary Guard’s navy warned that “any entry or exit through routes other than the ‘Route of Authority’ in the Persian Gulf could lead to irreparable incidents.”

A senior Iranian official also told Reuters that Tehran “would not back down” from its position on the Strait of Hormuz, even if it led to renewed confrontation with the United States.

“Iran is ready to impose its demands on the Strait through force if there is no agreement by other countries to accept its terms,” the official said.

A US official said Washington had warned that any new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz would lead to a stronger military response.

“The President has been clear that every time they shoot, we will shoot more, and at targets that further degrade their position in the Strait,” the official said.

References: nypost, news18