Iran Says Oman Strait of Hormuz Talks in Final Stages
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- Abbas Araghchi told Iran's cabinet that negotiations with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are entering their "final stages," per a Telegram post on Sunday.
- Esmail Baghaei said Tehran and Muscat were close to a deal on a new maritime route through Hormuz — "neither the northern route nor the southern route" — that respects both sides' sovereign rights and security.
- Donald Trump said early Sunday the US and Israel agreed to halt new attacks on Iran provided a deal is reached "rapidly," including the "Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING" of the Strait and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.
- Masoud Pezeshkian called the US MoU the "cornerstone" of Tehran's future foreign relations; a June ceasefire collapsed within weeks over a shipping-route dispute and fighting reignited in July.
- Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Trump by phone on Saturday, urging him to "prioritise dialogue" and "reduce escalation" and expressing concern over planned large new attacks on Iran.
- The Strait of Hormuz — bordered by the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman — normally carries about 20% of global oil consumption, and Iran has effectively controlled the waterway since the outbreak of war.
Why it matters: With ~20% of global oil consumption normally transiting the Strait and fighting reigniting in July after a collapsed June ceasefire, the new Iran-Oman route talks buy time. But Baghaei blamed the closure on US 'breach of commitments' — linking reopening to broader sanctions and naval-blockade relief rather than just shipping lanes.
