The United States and have again traded after a week in which mused that fragile negotiations between them might be 鈥渙ver.鈥�
The countries are now nearly halfway through the 60-day period that began with their signing of an aimed at permanently ending the war.
At stake are the lives of Iranians and others throughout the region, including Israel and , along with foreign residents of Gulf nations, U.S. military personnel stationed in multiple countries and thousands of mariners on ships still hoping to exit the .
The strait between Iran and Oman, considered an international waterway before the war, has become one of Tehran’s strongest pressure points in talks. Iran insists it alone now controls the strait.
Here鈥檚 a brief timeline of the war and efforts to end it:
Feb. 28
Israel and the U.S. , killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials, sparking the war. Iran quickly responds with strikes against Israel and across the Gulf region and asserts control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and natural gas supplies from the Gulf.
March 2
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon enters the war by firing rockets at Israel.
Israel retaliates, leading to an invasion that will occupy large swaths of southern Lebanon.
March 8
Iran names one of Khamenei鈥檚 sons, Mojtaba, as the . He still has not been seen in public and is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being hurt in the war鈥檚 opening strikes.
April 7
A tenuous, two-week is reached. Israel is not included in the discussions.
April 12
The U.S. and Iran end hours of in Pakistan鈥檚 capital without reaching an agreement.
April 13
Trump says the U.S. has begun a in an attempt to pressure Tehran to give up its grip on the strait.
April 14
Lebanon and Israel hold their in decades in Washington.
April 17
Iran says it has reopened the strait to shipping, but that doesn鈥檛 last.
April 21
Trump says he is the ceasefire.
May 3
Trump announces a U.S. effort to guide ships through the strait. That, too, doesn鈥檛 last.
May 31
Israel鈥檚 ground invasion of Lebanon makes its in over a quarter-century as Hezbollah continues to target northern Israel.
June 3
Israel and Lebanon say they agree to and create security zones that exclude Hezbollah.
Hezbollah and Israel quickly resume firing at each other.
June 7
Iran fires at Israel in the since the ceasefire took effect in early April. Israel fires back.
June 14
Trump says an with Iran and will be signed within days. Iran insists the deal means an end to fighting in Lebanon as well.
June 17
Trump signs an agreement with Iran that calls for Tehran to dilute its and waives U.S.-backed , immediately allowing Iran to sell its oil freely.
June 22
Vice President JD Vance says with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland created a 鈥済ood foundation for a successful final deal.鈥�
June 26
Israel and Lebanon announce a U.S.-backed that is described as a first step toward peace.
July 1
Host Qatar says U.S. and Iranian negotiators with Qatari and Pakistani mediators, with 鈥減ositive progress made.鈥�
July 2
Iran鈥檚 joint military command warns that all oil tankers moving through the strait must use its approved routes or face a 鈥渇orceful response.鈥�
July 4
Iran begins a for the late supreme leader, Khamenei. Talks with the U.S. toward a final deal on the war and Iran鈥檚 nuclear program are expected to resume after it ends.
July 7
Iran is accused of in the strait after traffic slowly increases, the most in a single day since late April. The U.S. responds by striking dozens of targets in Iran and reinstating sanctions on Iran鈥檚 oil sales. Tehran鈥檚 lead negotiator declares that 鈥淭he era of bullying and extortion is over.鈥�
July 8
Trump declares the ceasefire is 鈥渙ver鈥� but says negotiations can continue, raising fears that the war could ignite again. Days of attacks follow with Iran also firing at Arab states in the region.
July 10
Trump threatens Iran with more strikes, saying he’s responding to calls for his death during Khamenei’s funeral.
July 12
The U.S. military says it hits over 140 targets in Iran, after an Iranian strike on a container ship in the strait left a crew member missing. Tehran says the strait is closed until calm is restored. The U.S. says the strait remains open.
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