The US-Iran ceasefire has come under renewed strain since it took effect on April 8.
This week, there have been further strikes on Iran by the US, and Iranian retaliation against US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Meanwhile, military clashes between Israel and Lebanon have also intensified.
Over the past few weeks, Washington and Tehran have repeatedly claimed that negotiations are "making progress." Trump even stated that Iran had agreed not to pursue a nuclear weapons program, and hinted that he might meet Iran's Supreme Leader in person.
But almost at the same time, the US kept launching what it called "self-defense strikes" inside Iran. The Pentagon has maintained that these attacks were necessary to protect American troops and secure shipping lanes in the Gulf.
This has created a peculiar situation in which both sides insist that the ceasefire remains in force, even as hostilities continue on the ground.
Why is the ceasefire so vulnerable, and who should be blamed for it? In this episode of News Xplained, we'll dig into the details.
Reporter: Xie Hongzhou
Cameraman: Xie Hongzhou
Video & Poster: Xie Hongzhou
