U.S., Iran To Resume Doha Talks After Agreeing To Pause Military Operations

The United States and Iran have agreed to halt military operations and restart diplomatic talks in Doha on Tuesday as both countries attempt to stabilise their fragile peace agreement following a fresh round of military exchanges.

According to Axios, both sides have agreed to suspend all military activity while negotiations continue on issues related to the Strait of Hormuz. The latest development comes less than two weeks after Washington and Tehran announced an interim understanding aimed at reducing hostilities.

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Doha Meeting To Focus On Strait Of Hormuz

Senior U.S. officials told Axios that both countries have agreed to pause military operations ahead of the scheduled talks in Qatar. One official said military action would stop while discussions continue, while another stated that commercial vessels would be able to move freely during the negotiations.

The meeting was initially planned to take place in Switzerland as part of wider discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme. Following the latest escalation, both sides shifted the venue to Doha and narrowed the immediate focus to resolving differences over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. technical negotiator Nick Stewart is expected to participate in the discussions. The White House has not issued an official statement on the meeting.

Shipping Route Remains Key Issue

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central issue in implementing the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month.

Under the agreement, Iran committed to facilitating the safe movement of commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, while the U.S. agreed to remove restrictions affecting Iranian ports.

Negotiators had also agreed to establish a direct military communication channel between U.S. forces and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to reduce the risk of unintended confrontations. However, U.S. officials said the hotline was not operational before the latest military exchanges.

Iran has maintained that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz should coordinate with Iranian authorities, while the U.S. has maintained that international navigation must remain unrestricted.

Fresh Military Exchanges

The renewed diplomatic initiative follows recent military strikes by both countries. Iran launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain after the U.S. carried out strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including missile, drone and radar installations.

U.S. Central Command said the strikes were conducted in response to continued attacks on commercial shipping. Iran rejected that explanation and said its military action was retaliation for American strikes, warning that further violations could undermine diplomatic efforts.

According to official statements, there were no reported American casualties. Kuwait said it intercepted two ballistic missiles, while Bahrain reported limited damage to a residential building without any casualties.

Talks Seen As Next Step

Tuesday’s discussions are expected to begin with operational issues surrounding commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz before negotiators return to broader subjects, including Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and implementation of the wider agreement.

The outcome of the Doha meeting is expected to determine whether the recently signed understanding can withstand its first major challenge and provide a framework for further diplomatic engagement.