US-Iran MoU Collapses Over Strait of Hormuz Dispute
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- Trump declared the June 17 US-Iran ceasefire MoU "over" after Tehran claimed parts of the agreement were rendered "ineffective" by American actions, with both sides now accusing each other of violations.
- The US has carried out air strikes on hundreds of targets across Iran, while Iran retaliated by attacking US bases in several Persian Gulf countries and Jordan.
- Article 5 of the MoU — requiring Iran to arrange safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz — has become the central dispute driving the renewed conflict.
- Iran has designated a new shipping route along its coast, while the US Navy cleared an alternative route along Oman's coast, a move Iran views as a US violation.
- The MoU had promised to extend the ceasefire and launch talks on Iran's nuclear programme and Western sanctions — talks that now appear stalled.
Why it matters: The collapse of Article 5 means neither side can guarantee commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while air strikes and retaliatory attacks on US bases continue simultaneously, complicating any path back to diplomacy after months of escalation.
