On 17 June 2026, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding. That memorandum has since been violated and the ceasefire broken. The two sides are now clashing about the MoU’s clauses pertaining to the Strait of Hormuz, specifically how much authority Iran was meant to exert on the strait. U.S. policymakers and naval strategists remain queasy about the idea of Iran exercising control over a maritime chokepoint of such major importance to the global economy.
Yet the possibility of a new approach to Middle East security—however fleeting—that follows decades of failure suggests setting aside traditional concerns about freedom of navigation may be appropriate now, under such complex circumstances. Doing so could help end the Iran conflict and support the more vital U.S. interests of stability, peace, and prosperity.
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