The United States, Iran, and Oman are reportedly close to reaching an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies are transported during peacetime. The proposed deal, under negotiation for several weeks, seeks to restore the June 17 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran and resolve disputes over shipping rights in the strategic strait.
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described the talks with Oman as “positive” and ongoing, though Iran’s Sepah News cited an official who said US military threats remain a major obstacle to finalizing the agreement. The Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasized that discussions focus on establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes that respect sovereign rights and address national security concerns of both Iran and Oman.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the Hormuz negotiations are separate from broader diplomacy concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “There’s the big deal, which is the one that has to do with their nuclear ambitions.”
An unnamed source suggested a resolution could be imminent, saying, “We’ll know in 48 hours. The strait is going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the strait is going to be open.”
The agreement could ease tensions in one of the Middle East’s most volatile flashpoints and create space for wider negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and other issues.
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