US and Iran Enter Technical Talks to Secure Peace Deal, Shipping Restart

MIDDLE EAST – The U.S. and Iran held indirect technical talks in Doha on Wednesday as they seek to agree on the flow of shipping through the ‌Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire.

The talks are based on a 14-point interim accord signed last month that was meant to halt the war and reopen the strait, while setting up 60 days of negotiations for a permanent peace deal.

Iran is determined to win international recognition of its control over the strait and its ⁠ability to levy fees on ships entering or leaving the gulf, even if it has to do so by force.

Traffic has partially resumed ​through the waterway, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war.