U.S. President Donald Trump has once again issued a warning to Oman amidst Iran’s announcement of a collaboration with the Gulf Arab nation to coordinate shipping activities through the Strait of Hormuz. The reopening of the water passage has been a crucial demand from the U.S.
As the 60-day negotiation period between the United States and Iran to reach a peace agreement was coming to a close, no extension had been mentioned, and both parties seemed as distant in their positions as they were at the beginning.
Iran has disclosed that it has made progress with Oman on an arrangement for vessels to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway shared by the two countries. Discussions are underway to finalize the details for a joint declaration. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated in Tehran that an agreement has been reached regarding the transit route.
Although specifics were not elaborated upon, previous reports suggest that the proposed deal would allow ships to enter the strait near Iran and exit near Oman without incurring fees during an interim phase. The U.S. has been pushing for a mutually acceptable agreement on reopening the strait before lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.
Following the attacks by Israel and the U.S. on Iran on February 28, Iran effectively closed the strait, a critical route through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s traded oil used to pass.
In a previous incident, Trump mentioned to a Fox News reporter that the U.S. would potentially strike Oman if it interfered, using strong language to emphasize his point. This was not the first time Trump had made threats towards Oman, as he had previously stated during a cabinet meeting in May that Oman needed to comply or face consequences.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both Iran and the U.S. to resume peace talks, emphasizing that a military solution to the conflict is not viable. Guterres also stressed the importance of toning down the aggressive rhetoric that has been prevalent in recent communications.
Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for an assault on a ship and four military boats in the Red Sea near Mokha. The rebels allegedly launched ballistic missiles at the vessels, causing them to capsize and catch fire. The rebels accused Saudi Arabia of owning the targeted vessels, although there was no immediate verification of this claim.
Drone attacks targeted two officials in northern Iraq, believed to have originated from the Iranian border. The regional counterterrorism service reported that one drone targeted the office of Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdish region in Iraq, while the other was aimed at the residence of a senior regional intelligence official. No casualties were reported, and no group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Since the onset of the conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran, there have been consistent attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic installations in Iraq by Iranian-supported groups. The direct drone attacks on regional government buildings represent a departure from previous tactics. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi distanced Iran from the attacks, cautioning against attempts to create discord between neighboring regions.
Amid these developments, U.S. forces stationed in the Kurdish region of Iraq have commenced a withdrawal process in line with an agreement between Washington and Baghdad to conclude the U.S. military presence in Iraq by September 30.