Iran Ready to Resume Ceasefire with US Amid Middle East Turmoil

POLICY WIRE — Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Tuesday that Iran is prepared to re-enter the ceasefire agreement with the United States, provided Washington also adheres to the terms. This declaration comes after a recent exchange of fire between the two nations, marking the first such incident in a month.

Pezeshkian made the remarks during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan. He emphasized that if the U.S. fulfills its obligations under the June memorandum of understanding, Iran will promptly do the same. The agreement, which called for an immediate ceasefire and a 60-day negotiation period for a broader peace deal, has since faltered.

Under the now-broken agreement, Iran had committed to clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz and allowing ships to pass, while the U.S. agreed to end its naval blockade, lift sanctions, grant waivers for Iranian oil exports, and initiate a reconstruction package for Iran.

Iran has been collaborating with Oman to develop a framework for managing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, though it remains uncertain whether this plan will be acceptable to the U.S. Other Gulf nations have called for the unconditional reopening of the strait.

In a separate development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to discuss regional security and stability efforts, though the Strait of Hormuz was not specifically mentioned.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military operation in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of at least four people, including two children, according to hospital officials. The Israeli military reported striking several targets in Gaza to eliminate security threats, with no reported injuries to its troops.

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the apprehension of a senior Hamas operative, though the individual’s identity was not disclosed. Additionally, a child was killed in central Gaza when Israeli forces fired upon a group in Deir al-Balah, with four others, including a child, sustaining injuries.

In Yemen, Islamic State spokesperson Abu Huzayfah al-Ansari was killed in a joint operation by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Yemeni counterterrorism forces. The operation took place in Seiyun city, Hadramout province, where al-Ansari was hiding among eight civilians, who were unharmed and relocated to safety.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz and a separate incident involving a nearby tanker. The tanker was struck by three projectiles while exiting the Persian Gulf, and a second report involved a tanker and military forces off the coast of Oman.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf asserted that Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the reduced number of ships passing through the strait demonstrates their authority. He also accused the U.S. of waging an economic and cognitive war against Iran after failing in military and diplomatic efforts.

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council announced the completion of investigations into 5,704 suspected Islamic State group members transferred from Syria. Hundreds will be released, while others will face trial. The detainees represent 67 nationalities, including Syrians and Iraqis, with some European nationals among them.

The United Nations food agency issued a warning that the escalating conflict in Yemen could exacerbate the country’s severe hunger crisis without international intervention. Carl Skau, the Acting Executive Director of the World Food Program, highlighted the impact of rising global food prices on Yemen’s humanitarian situation, with some families now eating only one meal a day and children showing signs of malnutrition.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)