Iran, US close to Strait of Hormuz deal as talks near final stage
Iran said on Wednesday, Aug 6th that an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz is in its final drafting stage, while US President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the strategic waterway could be announced within days, raising hopes of easing global shipping disruptions and reducing tensions in the region.
The proposed agreement could reopen the vital shipping route, but key differences remain. Iran has insisted on retaining some control over the strait, while the United States has opposed any arrangement that would allow Tehran to charge transit fees or formalise its authority over the waterway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said a joint statement would be issued if "certain parties do not obstruct this process", in an apparent reference to the United States.
Two regional officials familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Iranian and Omani negotiators had finalised a draft agreement and were awaiting approval from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The officials said the proposed deal could pave the way for renewed US-Iran nuclear negotiations.
Trump said on Tuesday that an agreement could be reached "tomorrow or the next day", adding that "a lot of progress has been made".
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas previously passed, has remained largely disrupted during the conflict, driving up global energy prices and disrupting international trade.
Despite optimism over the negotiations, regional tensions persisted. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they launched ballistic missiles towards Saudi-linked oil tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, though Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment. Britain's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a vessel in the Gulf of Aden reported an explosion nearby, but its crew was safe.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah showed fresh signs of strain after Israel issued an evacuation warning for a village in southern Lebanon and later said it had launched targeted strikes in response to what it described as ceasefire violations.
Talks between Israeli and Lebanese negotiators in Rome on implementing a ceasefire agreement ended early because of developments on the ground, although a US official described the discussions as "extremely productive" and said they could resume on Thursday.
