Iran nears Hormuz deal with Oman, says reopening hinges on the US
The agreement with Oman would mark a step towards reopening the key energy route, but any easing still depends on Washington ending its naval blockade of Iran's ports.
On Wednesday, Iran and Oman reached an agreement regarding the transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, who stated that the main considerations and points of agreement are currently in the final review and drafting stage. This development could potentially lead to the reopening of the strategic energy pathway, although official sources emphasized that the US ending its naval blockade of Iran's ports remains a prerequisite for any easing of tensions.
The agreement was reached amidst ongoing security incidents in the region, with a tanker captain reporting explosions and two explosions near Kumzar, Oman, just nine nautical miles (17 kilometers) southeast of the strait. Additionally, Yemen's Houthis claimed responsibility for striking two Saudi oil tankers, the eighth and ninth since initiating a blockade of the kingdom last month.
US Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged the challenges in negotiating with Iran, citing the country's fractured leadership and the complexity of the situation. Despite US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that Iran was eager to reach a deal to reopen the Hormuz, Iran has maintained that it would collaborate with Oman to establish the joint management of the waterway.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
