US and Iran reach new ceasefire — Al Arabiya
Photo: The situation in the Middle East has a chance to stabilize (Getty Images)
On August 17, Washington and Tehran reached an agreement to extend the 60-day ceasefire in the Middle East, according to Al Arabiya.
"Reports indicate an agreement has been reached to extend a 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran," the agency reports.
Neither the US government nor the Iranian regime has confirmed or denied this information.
The day before, The Wall Street Journal revealed an article stating that Iran has long been preparing for the conflict in the Middle East to resume and become even more serious.
Their measures include strengthening the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' control over the regular army, appointing experienced veterans of the war with Iraq and past internal repressions to key positions, stepping up domestic counterintelligence, and increasing the production of missiles and drones.
Moreover, the Iranian regime quickly seized the initiative by attacking ships to tighten its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
This effectively expanded the battlefield to the Red Sea, which Saudi Arabia had been using to circumvent Iran's blockade of the Persian Gulf.
Dissatisfaction with Washington is growing among US allies in the Persian Gulf. Countries are increasingly concerned that Trump is unable to lead diplomatic efforts to achieve peace with Iran.
Earlier, Donald Trump stated that he planned to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory in the near future.
