Trump Holds Off Iran Strikes on Pledge a Hormuz Deal Is Close

US President Donald Trump has delayed new strikes on Iran after Tehran and other Middle Eastern powers informed him that they are working on an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Financial Post, Trump said he is holding off on further action.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which around 20% of global oil consumption passes. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said Tehran and Muscat are close to reaching a deal on a new maritime route through the Strait, separate from the existing corridors.

There is disagreement over the terms of the potential deal. Trump said an understanding had been agreed, including the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the Iranian nuclear threat, with Israel joining the commitment. However, Tehran denied this account, with the Fars news agency describing Trump's announcement as another withdrawal of threats.

Brief written by urgent.news from Financial Post, Free Malaysia Today, MercoPress, Channel News Asia — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.