Tehran: Iran announced that it is in the final stage of drafting an agreement with Oman concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump suggested that a deal could be announced shortly, potentially reopening the crucial waterway, alleviating economic pressures, and contributing to ending the ongoing conflict.
According to France24.com, the agreement's success hinges on the US lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. The Trump administration has previously dismissed any deal that would solidify Iran's control over the strait, as it would mark a significant setback for the US and violate global norms. Iran has maintained its stance on controlling the strait, refusing to revert it to an open international waterway as it was before the conflict.
The US, alongside Israel, initiated the war on February 28, with objectives including the overthrow of Tehran's government and the cessation of its nuclear program. These objectives have remained unfulfilled, and the conflict has evolved into a struggle over the strait, with Iran's assertion of control and attacks on shipping severely disrupting traffic.
The closure of the strait, a key route for a fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas, has escalated fuel prices and affected the global economy. Trump faces increasing pressure to conclude an unpopular war ahead of the US congressional elections. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, announced that the agreement with Oman is nearing completion, with a joint statement pending if no obstructions arise, likely alluding to the US.
Iranian and Omani negotiators have finalized the draft deal to reopen the strait, pending approval from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, according to regional officials. Ayatollah Khamenei, reportedly wounded in the initial strikes of the war, has not been publicly seen since then.
The potential deal is portrayed as a temporary resolution to the strait dispute, linked to an earlier agreement between the US and Iran in June aimed at ending the fighting and reopening the waterway, but which collapsed. The draft deal proposes ships entering the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exiting via an Omani-controlled route, with service fees charged for security and environmental preservation.
Trump expressed optimism about the progress, indicating that an announcement might be imminent. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the challenges involved in resolving the conflict, describing the process as messy and requiring time.
Meanwhile, regional tensions continue, with the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claiming missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers and a vessel in the Gulf of Aden reporting a nearby explosion. The escalating conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia risks reigniting Yemen's civil war.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile, with recent Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon following ceasefire violations. Negotiations in Rome between Lebanese and Israeli officials were cut short but may resume, as both sides discuss the withdrawal of Israeli forces and Hezbollah's disarmament.