An apparent agreement by the US and Iran to pause a fresh outburst of violence stabilized a truce that is the first step to permanently ending the war and underscored that each side has a vital national interest in doing so.

Iran and the United States have agreed to pause the latest fighting in the Gulf and return to talks over the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reports.

Explainer: Will sporadic U.S.-Iran clashes derail fragile truce?-