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US-Iran Deal Ends Today (Img: X)
New Delhi: The 60-day deadline of the US-Iran understanding ends on August 17, but hopes of a final settlement remain slim. Instead, tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme are pushing both sides further apart.
The framework agreed in June was meant to stop military operations and pave the way for a broader settlement. It also envisaged sanctions relief for Tehran, movement of Iranian oil and steps to restore commercial shipping through Hormuz.
However, disagreements quickly emerged. Washington accused Iran of restricting shipping, while Tehran said the US had failed to deliver on sanctions and blockade-related commitments. By July, the arrangement was effectively inoperative.
The Strait of Hormuz is now at the centre of the confrontation. Iran says the waterway remains under its control, while Donald Trump has made increasingly forceful statements about the US role there.
With commercial traffic sharply reduced, any fresh escalation could have consequences for global energy markets. Hormuz normally carries a major share of the world's oil and LNG shipments.
The expiry of the agreement does not necessarily mean an immediate return to full-scale war. Qatar, Oman and Pakistan are continuing diplomatic contacts, creating the possibility of a new arrangement outside the original framework.
Washington is also expected to maintain economic pressure, with further sanctions possible. Tehran, meanwhile, is likely to use control over Hormuz as leverage.
Iran’s nuclear programme remains the biggest long-term challenge. Any future deal would have to cover enrichment limits, sanctions, oil exports, frozen assets and security guarantees.
For now, the most likely outcome is a tense mix of sanctions, military pressure and back-channel diplomacy. The crucial question is whether Washington and Tehran can find a new formula before the Hormuz dispute triggers another major confrontation.
