DUBAI | Iran is willing to return to a June ceasefire agreement with the United States if Washington resumes its commitments under the deal, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday, as renewed attacks and threats of further military action raise fears that the conflict could escalate again.
Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Pezeshkian said Iran would immediately reciprocate if the United States returns to its obligations under the June memorandum of understanding. His statement came after the first direct exchange of fire between the two countries in about a month.
The latest escalation followed a U.S. strike on Iran’s Larak Island. Iran responded by launching missiles at two U.S. air bases in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump has since threatened further strikes, although both sides have indicated that they do not want the confrontation to develop into a wider war.
The June memorandum called for an immediate ceasefire followed by 60 days of negotiations toward a broader peace agreement. Under the arrangement, Iran was to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz and allow shipping to resume, while the United States agreed to end its naval blockade, ease sanctions and provide waivers for Iranian oil exports, among other commitments. The agreement quickly broke down over disputes about its implementation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of tension. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that a tanker was hit by three projectiles while leaving the Persian Gulf on Monday, while another incident involving a tanker and military forces was reported off Oman. No casualties were reported, and no group immediately claimed responsibility.
The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, carrying a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Disruptions have already pushed oil prices higher, with Brent crude rising above $92 a barrel on Tuesday amid renewed fears over regional supplies.
The current conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Six months later, the war has evolved into a prolonged confrontation involving military attacks, economic sanctions and severe disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that the conflict has also placed growing pressure on Iran’s economy and contributed to instability in global energy markets.
Pezeshkian’s latest statement leaves the possibility of renewed negotiations open, but major differences remain. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has demanded greater U.S. concessions, including Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz and financial compensation for wartime losses, conditions that Washington is unlikely to accept.
For now, the region remains on edge as diplomats seek a way back to negotiations while the threat of further U.S.-Iran military exchanges continues to loom.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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