Is War the Only ‘Understanding’ Between America and Iran?

The US and Iran are fighting again – or still, perhaps, as one could argue they never really stopped. It has been almost two weeks now since Presidents Donald Trump of the US and Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran signed their “memorandum of understanding.” But what understanding was really reached? It was supposed to put an end to the fighting in the Middle East – even if only just long enough to negotiate a more permanent arrangement.

Well, it didn’t last. Iran never really stopped striking its neighbors or ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and by Friday, June 26, US Central Command was back to work – a violation of the MOU, according to Iran, despite the fact that they never honored it themselves. It’s beginning to look as if the only understanding the US and Iran have is war.

 A Series of Unfortunate Events

Let’s break down the timeline since the signing of the MOU. Even that was already significantly delayed over continued conflict in the region, but we’ll call that water under the bridge for now and start with the fresh slate of a signed agreement. On June 17, the two presidents signed the deal. The next day, the US lifted the blockade of Iranian ports.

The longer-term negotiations were supposed to begin in Switzerland on June 19, but that trip was cancelled due to – you guessed it – escalating violence. Iran refused to send its team of negotiators after Israel delivered retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Plus, they called that meeting “unnecessary” since the preliminary peace deal was signed.

Not to be deterred, peace delegates from Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan met in Switzerland beginning Saturday, June 20, and Vice President JD Vance arrived early on Sunday. They had what everyone called a “productive” first round of peace talks, forging a “roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days.”

But the problem with a map is that it only works if you follow it. Ignore the directions and veer off in either direction, and you’re in for a bumpy ride. Iran never did entirely stop attacking either its immediate neighbors – though there were apologies and promises to do so – nor did the beleaguered nation cease striking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. And that’s what led the US to launch a series of strikes on Iranian missile and coastal radar sites on June 26. A day later, Iran condemns the CENTCOM strikes – because of course they did – and then they struck at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran calls this a response to US attacks on coastal positions and warned on X that any further violations would bring a “crushing response.” Stateside, JD Vance warned that “violence will be met with violence.”

And so, while folks on both sides continue to talk hopefully about peace, the war is back on – if, indeed, it was ever really off to begin with.

Iran May Never Learn

This latest round of conflict is, at least from the US perspective, because of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ attack on a commercial ship – the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Ever Lovely – just outside the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. President Trump called it a “foolish violation” of the 60-day truce.

“It is very possible that they will never learn!” the president wrote on Truth Social. “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

Vice President Vance defended the US response: “Iran signed the ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.”

Every time negotiators declare they’ve finally worked it out, the world wonders if it’s finally over. But every time it seems peace might prevail, Iran attacks someone else. So the cycle continues – and the answer to that question becomes more obvious each time.