Iran said Monday that it has reached an agreement with Oman on a plan to manage the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, with the two countries now working to finalise details for a joint statement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that the two sides had reached an understanding on the map of the transit route.
The development comes as the United States continues to demand the full reopening of the strategic waterway to commercial shipping. However, it remains unclear whether the Iran-Oman arrangement will meet Washington’s requirements.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively closed to commercial shipping since Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Before the conflict, roughly one-fifth of the world's traded oil supplies passed through the strategic waterway.
The announcement came as a 60-day negotiating period between the United States and Iran was set to expire, with no extension announced and the two sides appearing to remain far apart on a broader peace agreement.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and Middle East negotiator Jared Kushner held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after meeting Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt to discuss disarmament.
The meetings with Netanyahu followed Israel's rejection of a 15-point, US-backed roadmap aimed at advancing a Gaza truce. Hamas has said it accepts the roadmap, which includes provisions for disarmament, and has called on mediators and the US-created Board of Peace to press Israel to support the proposal.
Israel, however, has maintained that Hamas must fully disarm before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli forces currently control about 60 per cent of the Gaza Strip, while Netanyahu has previously threatened to expand military operations further.
