US-Iran MoU should not go up in smoke: China Daily editorial

Just weeks after signing a memorandum of understanding on an interim deal to halt their conflict, the United States and Iran are embroiled in intense confrontation, casting a dark shadow over the region's stability and the security of global energy supplies.

The current escalation is marked by a series of devastating attacks. The US has launched multiple rounds of air strikes against Iranian military sites, claiming they are necessary to "degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran's power stations and bridges.

This military confrontation has effectively nullified the recently signed MoU. On Saturday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi declared that Iran has ceased fulfilling its obligations under the agreement, as Washington has violated its commitments.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei also said the US' violation of the MoU proves the US leader's signature is worthless and invalid, highlighting the profound breakdown in trust.

The diplomatic path, which offered a glimmer of hope, now appears completely blocked. Central to this conflict is the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The escalation of tensions has already led to a sharp slump in shipping through the strait, sending shock waves through global energy markets again.

The safety of this international shipping lane, vital to the global economy, must not be held hostage as a bargaining chip in this dangerous geopolitical game. Using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool for leverage is a reckless gamble with global stability. The two parties concerned should exercise restraint and de-escalate the situation.

Regrettably, the MoU at the moment is effectively defunct as the basic preconditions for its implementation no longer exist. Its first article required both sides to cease fire completely and restrain their allies, forming the basis for the next phase of negotiations.

Not only has Israel continued to take military actions in Lebanon, but also the US and Iran have engaged in conflict again. Under the MoU, the US had previously agreed to lift the oil export embargo on Iran and unfreeze Iranian assets, but these promises have now been revoked by the US.

Much of the current situation stems from the inherent fragility of the MoU itself. The first article regarding the ceasefire was negotiated between the US and Iran without involving Israel. The reconciliation between the US and Iran has therefore always been at risk of being sabotaged by Israel.

Having neither sought nor signed the MoU, Israel is under no obligation to honor it — and Washington knows it. So it comes as no surprise that US Vice-President JD Vance has criticized Israel for resorting to a range of tactics, including lobbying to shape public perceptions in the US, all aimed at prolonging the US' conflict with Iran.

Nor does the MoU offer any clarity on the Strait of Hormuz — its provisions are so loosely drawn that each side can claim victory. Iran asserts the document affirms its control; the US insists it means no such thing. The gap between their readings is not a misunderstanding — it has been a crisis waiting to happen.

The prevailing trajectory of retaliation serves the interests of no party, except those whose strategic calculations depend on the perpetuation of hostilities. Washington may think that military force can coerce Iran into submission. But that belief was proved wrong soon after the conflict started on Feb 28. Each round of US attacks on Iran, aimed at appeasing hard-liners at home, only escalates the cycle of violence rather than resolving it, and deepens US entanglement in the Middle Eastern quagmire.

A return to the negotiating table is the only viable solution. The MoU was a hard-won achievement that should be cherished and protected. China, along with other nations such as Pakistan, has called on both parties to immediately cease hostilities, overcome difficulties and restart dialogue to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

The longer this conflict course is pursued, the more it chips away at the already-frail trust that emerged from those first talks. And as that trust crumbles, so too does any hope of a graceful way out. The US and Iran must prioritize regional peace and the security of critical shipping waterways, return to the spirit of the MoU, and prove that their signatures are still credible.