The latest tit for tat skirmishes between the United States and Iran, plus the bitter war of words these battles have set off, point to one inescapable conclusion. The memorandum of understanding these longtime adversaries signed last month is falling apart and may crumble altogether.

As the five-day state funeral of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concluded, the US accused Iran of firing at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and violating the memorandum of understanding, a vaguely-worded document open to various interpretations.

Iran, which seeks control of the strait, has denied the accusation and claimed it is diligently fulfilling its commitments under the memorandum of understanding, which provides a 60-day window for both sides to negotiate a permanent end to their war.

Having broken out after the United States and Israel struck Iran in joint air strikes on February 28, it wound down following a ceasefire in April and the signing of the memorandum of understanding in mid-June.

Since then, there have been periodic US-Iranian clashes in and around the Persian Gulf.

US President Donald Trump hoped that diplomacy would lead to the full reopening of the strait, which Iran blockaded after the war erupted. This international waterway is vital for the global economy because about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows through it.

Iran, having signaled its intention to........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)