The US-Iranian memorandum of understanding, which entered into force days ago, faced its first field test yesterday as developments accelerated rapidly, amid international anticipation of technical negotiations between the two sides launching today, Sunday, in Switzerland — against a backdrop of Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz if Israeli bombardment of southern Lebanon continued.
Washington's contacts and pressure on Israel, however, produced a de-escalation, with Israel announcing a ceasefire without withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon. Israel's Channel 12 confirmed that the Israeli position came following coordination between the political leadership and the United States.
Iran had earlier announced that it had decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to shipping as a first step, warning that the understanding with Washington was now in danger unless it fulfilled its commitments.
The US military contradicted Iran's announcement of the strait's closure, stating that it had monitored the passage of 55 commercial vessels and the transfer of more than 17 million barrels of oil through the strait yesterday.
US Vice President JD Vance played down the significance of the closure, affirming that Trump's hand was extended to Iran should it change its behaviour, and that the president had decided to give negotiations a chance — contrary to the wishes of certain parties within the Israeli government. Vance said he expects to visit Switzerland in the coming days to participate in technical talks involving representatives from the United States and Iran alongside mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, to follow up on the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.