THE latest exchange of fire between the US and Iran reminds us once more that ceasefires are sustained not by signatures alone but also political restraint. The reported US strikes, following a dispute over Iran’s actions against a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, illustrate how quickly a single incident can place the broader peace process in jeopardy. While Washington described its response as limited and consistent with preserving the ceasefire, Tehran insisted that its own actions in the Strait of Hormuz were compatible with the MoU. Yet the episode exposed just how fragile the recent agreement had become. Rather than allowing military exchanges to dictate the trajectory of relations, both sides should now activate the deconfliction........

© Dawn