Straddling military deterrence and diplomatic tracks, Washington is establishing new protocols in dealing with Tehran, underscored by negotiating from a position of strength.
The question arises whether this strategy will succeed in mitigating escalation and continuing diplomatic dialogue, or if it might herald a series of mutual violations.
Following an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz, Washington did not allow Tehran time to protest or justify; instead, it responded immediately with airstrikes targeting missile sites, drones, and coastal radars.
Vice President J.D. Vance closed the door to speculation with a decisive statement, asserting that violence would be met with violence.
He suggested that if Iran has disputes over the memorandum of understanding, they should call Washington rather than launch drones at ships.
These developments place the diplomatic path between Washington and Tehran into its most challenging test since both parties signed the memorandum of understanding.
President Donald Trump considered the attack a foolish breach of the ceasefire, emphasizing that any threat to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would not go unanswered.
According to the American side, the retaliatory strike was not a declaration of a new war but an affirmation of rules long adhered to by the Trump administration—rules indicating the door for negotiation remains open, but any attempts at negotiation through aggression will be reciprocated in kind.
Iran on Saturday deemed the U.S. strikes from Friday night an 'egregious violation' of the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the Middle Eastern war.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated in a declaration, condemning the airstrikes conducted by the U.S. military on several sites along Iran's southern coast.
The ministry added that these strikes constitute a 'flagrant violation of Article 2, paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter, and a gross violation of the first paragraph of the memorandum of understanding,' agreed upon with the U.S. in mid-June.
In retaliation, Iran attacked American sites following U.S. strikes on the country, as reported by official Iranian media on Saturday, after Washington accused Tehran of attacking one of its commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
This exchange of fire is the first known incident since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran on June 17.
It raises questions about the efforts to keep the crucial waterway open amid Washington and Tehran negotiating a final settlement to the conflict that began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.