Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة ترى تقدماً في اتفاق بشأن الملاحة عبر مضيق هرمز

According to Al Jazeera, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress had been made in negotiations involving Oman and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, though no final agreement had been reached. The talks are intended to establish safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes through the strategic waterway.

Rubio said Washington was involved in the negotiations, while Iran says it is negotiating with Oman rather than directly with the US. He said the strait remains open and vessels continue to transit it, but the US is seeking an arrangement that would enable more ships to pass safely in the short term before discussions turn to wider issues, including what he called the “ultimate deal”, the denuclearisation of Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said an agreement could be reached as early as “today or tomorrow”, and diplomatic sources in Tehran suggested a deal was possible by the end of Wednesday. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the Oman talks as “positive” and continuing, saying they had been assessed favourably at political and technical levels. However, differences remain over the reopening mechanism, maritime service fees and other security arrangements.

Regional diplomatic activity has also increased. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran in a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Pakistan invited Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad for talks, although it was unclear whether the visit would occur. Elsewhere, security tensions persisted: an Indian cargo vessel sank after being struck by a projectile near Yemeni waters, with all 14 crew members rescued, while operations at Saudi Arabia’s Najran airport were suspended following a claimed Houthi drone strike.