The US and Iran have stopped attacks after a four-day escalation. What the media is writing

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks in the Persian Gulf, which resumed four days after the signing of a memorandum of understanding. In the coming days, the parties will return to technical negotiations on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Israel resumed fighting in southern Lebanon against the Hezbollah group. How the media reacts to the turbulent situation in the Middle East is in the Izvestia digest.

Bloomberg: US and Iran agree to stop attacks

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop mutual strikes before resuming peace talks on the Strait of Hormuz and other issues. The American official said that technical negotiations on all aspects of the memorandum of understanding reached in June are planned to continue, adding that both sides will stop negotiations for now and the vessels will be able to move freely.

The escalation risks slowing progress in restoring shipping through the vital strait to pre-war levels. Negotiations on the details of the interim agreement are expected to resume in Doha. US stock index futures rose after reports that the US and Iran had abandoned a new escalation. Caution prevailed in the energy markets, with the price of Brent crude oil jumping 1.9% to more than $73 per barrel before cutting back to trade around $72.40.

Associated Press: Iran strikes Bahrain and Kuwait after US strikes

On June 28, Iran again launched drone and missile strikes against Bahrain and Kuwait after new US airstrikes on the Islamic Republic and threatened a "complete cessation" of negotiations to end the war if Washington continued its attacks. Attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian control sparked a multi-day firefight. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Tehran must control the strait to the Persian Gulf, which once transported a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas reserves.

Pakistan, acting as a key mediator, said that negotiations between the United States and Iran will resume on June 30 under the terms of an interim agreement. The administration of US President Donald Trump said that nothing has been canceled and technical negotiations will take place in the coming days.

The New York Times: Iran risks peace talks to maintain influence on Hormuz

The four-day cycle of attacks that Iran has launched jointly with the United States in the Strait of Hormuz threatens to derail a recently reached truce in a war that both sides are seeking to end. However, according to analysts, it was a necessary move for Iran. Iran's newfound ability to disrupt traffic along a waterway of key importance to the global economy is a critical lever that it cannot afford to lose, either at the negotiating table or in a war with the United States.

Some Iranian officials suspect that the Trump administration may have entered into a preliminary agreement with Iran just to buy time — to ease economic pressure ahead of the midterm elections in the United States before going back to war. If that happens, Iran will need the opportunity to wreak havoc in the strait again.

The Guardian: New clashes show that the memorandum is worded too broadly

The sudden outbreak of new hostilities in the Persian Gulf, just ten days after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict, threatens to put both countries back on the path to war. It seems that the deliberately vague wording in the memorandum could not withstand the pressure of conflicting interpretations, and as a result, supporters of the deal in Tehran found themselves at a disadvantage. Statements are spreading in the country that the government should never have agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and not only among hardliners.

The document says that Iran "will make every effort to ensure the safe passage of merchant vessels" through the strait within 60 days. It may seem that Iran interpreted these words to mean that only it can determine which route the vessels should follow. Behind the past incidents lies Iran's fear that the southern route along the coast of Oman will give the United States the opportunity to put an end to Iranian domination.

Counter risk: Iran may block the Strait of Hormuz again

The fragile agreements between Washington and Tehran are on the verge due to Israel's tough stance.

Reuters: Israel destroyed Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has destroyed an underground infrastructure used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. According to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, the United States was informed in advance of the impending attack, which targeted a 200-meter tunnel in the city of Majdal Zun.

An Israeli statement said there were hundreds of weapons and launchers in the tunnel. The attack came hours after the Israeli military said it had attacked Hezbollah militants armed with rocket launchers and hit a rocket launcher in the Nabatiya area of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said the Israeli attacks were a "blatant" violation of the ceasefire. Its leader, Naim Qassem, rejected the security agreement, calling it a capitulation to Israel. He said that the group would continue its armed resistance.