US-Iran war: MoU ‘in crisis’! From Strait of Hormuz to Lebanon — key disputes threatening interim ceasefire explained
The fragile truce between the United States and Iran appears to be rapidly unravelling, with both sides trading accusations of violating the June interim ceasefire
The fragile truce between the United States and Iran appears to be rapidly unravelling, with both sides trading accusations of violating the June interim ceasefire agreement that was intended to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. US President Donald Trump last week declared the initial ceasefire agreement "over", accusing Tehran of failing to honour commitments made under the deal. On Monday, Trump further escalated his rhetoric, saying the United States would likely take over the Strait of Hormuz and act as its “guardian”. Iran, meanwhile, accused Washington of pushing the agreement "into crisis". "Undoubtedly, the memorandum of understanding has entered a crisis phase," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated, as per Fars news agency. Tehran alleged that, within 25 days of the war termination agreement, the US had violated nearly all of its provisions by targeting Iran's transport infrastructure, fishing vessels, cargo barges and meteorological facilities, which it described as serious violations amounting to war crimes. Pakistan, which brokered the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), has called on both sides to abide by their commitments. Dispute over Strait of Hormuz deepens One of the biggest flashpoints remains the interpretation of Article 5 of the MoU, which provides that commercial shipping would immediately resume through the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran would ensure safe passage without levying charges for 60 days, as per Reuters.
Following the outbreak of war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, Tehran had effectively shut the strategic waterway through which nearly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass. Iran maintains that the agreement recognises its authority to manage navigation through the Strait, provided it does not impose fees during the agreed period. Also Read | Iran war leaves US missile stocks depleted, says report The United States and Gulf nations dismissed that interpretation, arguing that the agreement merely obliges Iran to facilitate safe navigation without using force to restrict maritime traffic. Trump announced the United States will charge a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz to pay for its security. "The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The U.S.A... will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World," he added. Over the past week, Iran has fired on vessels it claimed were attempting to transit the waterway through routes not approved by Tehran and subsequently declared the Strait closed once again. Tehran also accused Washington of disrupting international commercial shipping by interfering in security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
The BriefWire