Iran-Oman Pact Nears Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Iran and Oman are in the final stages of an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, according to multiple reports. The proposed pact defines new shipping lanes through the strait, which has been blocked by Iran since February in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks.

The deal comes as President Donald Trump suggested that a broader agreement with Iran could be reached as early as Wednesday or Thursday. According to TimesLIVE, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed on Monday that only discussions with Oman over management of the Strait of Hormuz were underway, denying any direct negotiations with the United States.

Trump claimed he had called off a planned attack, which he described as potentially the biggest since World War II, after being urged by Middle Eastern allies including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Guardian reported this was reportedly the 12th time Trump has called off threatened strikes against Iran over the past five months.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry maintained that the country was not currently holding negotiations with the United States. Esmail Baghaei, an agency spokesperson, said Monday that ongoing talks were with Oman, the country on the other side of the strait, and were focused only on establishing a temporary route for safe navigation through the channel.

According to HuffPost, Iran demands that the U.S. must meet conditions including compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats before reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said an agreement with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz was in its 'final stages' but reiterated Tehran would not reopen it unless U.S. met certain demands.

The Guardian reported that Trump has suggested dozens of times since the beginning of the war that a deal with Iran is imminent. His latest claim that new negotiations could produce a peace deal within days underscores his administration's desperation to reopen the strait and find a road map out of the crisis. After promising to hit Iran 'very hard,' Trump made a U-turn on Sunday, claiming that talks would continue and that the 'perimeters of a deal' for the opening of Hormuz and the 'denuclearization of Iran' had been agreed.

Oil prices dropped sharply following Trump's announcement, with Brent crude falling more than 4% to about $83 per barrel according to CNBC. This decline reversed part of last month’s surge when both benchmarks gained more than 20 percent as renewed U.S.-Iran fighting and attacks on commercial vessels near Oman intensified concerns over shipping through the region.

The United Arab Emirates blamed Iran for attacks on two vessels linked to its state-owned oil company as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to CBS News. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that 'goal number one' for the Trump administration is to 'keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country,' followed by ensuring 'Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened economic isolation 'like the world has never seen before,' with new measures expected next week, CBS News reported.

Al Jazeera noted that the U.S. military can maintain a naval presence in the region 'indefinitely' to enforce its blockade of Iranian ports. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters during a trip to Panama that ships would be rotated in and out as needed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. will apply new economic measures to pressure Iran, describing them as unprecedented in history.

According to Al Jazeera, lawmakers in the US raised concerns about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, including reports of sailors attempting suicide due to severe burnout and declining mental health. Senator Richard Blumenthal called for Hegseth's removal over his handling of the situation, while other lawmakers demanded answers regarding maintenance issues and support services.

The U.S. military fired on a Panama-flagged cargo vessel attempting to break its blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman, according to Al Jazeera. The attack disabled the ship's engine room and steering gear after the crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings from American forces. This incident underscores ongoing tensions despite relative calm following a ceasefire agreement that collapsed in July.