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Middle East
Iran, Oman reportedly near Hormuz deal
Iran and Oman are moving closer to an agreement on a new framework for managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, although Tehran says the proposal does not amount to a full reopening of the strategic waterway. According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, the proposed arrangement would see commercial vessels enter the strait through Iranian waters before exiting through Omani waters. IRNA reportedly said the negotiations are intended to establish "a new model that is different from the 60-year-old practice of the past", replacing the longstanding system under which vessels transited the strait without the proposed framework. President Donald Trump has said an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz could be announced as early as Thursday. The Iranian state news agency argued the conflict involving Iran had fundamentally altered the security environment around the waterway and that previous arrangements were no longer suitable. IRNA added that the success of any agreement would depend on whether countries across the region and the broader international community accepted the new framework. The report made no reference to imposing transit fees on vessels using the strait, an issue that could prove contentious if intr
Middle East
Trump: Hormuz deal could come within days
United States President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be announced as early as Wednesday or Thursday, as Iran and Oman moved closer to finalising an agreement aimed at restoring shipping through the strategic waterway. Speaking to reporters while travelling in California, Trump said "a lot of progress has been made" when asked about reports that an announcement could be imminent. "It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day," Trump said. The comments came after Iran's foreign ministry confirmed that Tehran and Oman had agreed on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and were completing the final arrangements for jointly managing maritime traffic. According to foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, the two countries have agreed on the geographical coordinates of the proposed route, with a joint statement outlining the agreement now in its final drafting stage. Regional officials told The Associated Press the proposal would see vessels enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit via a route managed by Oman. The plan also includes security and environmental service fees for ships using the passage. The negotiations remain sensitive, with officials
Middle East
Rubio says US involved in Iran-Oman talks
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is "involved in" negotiations between Iran and Oman, while reiterating that Iran's denuclearisation remains the administration's long-term objective. Speaking on Tuesday, Rubio said the broader goal was to ensure Iran could never develop a nuclear weapon. "There's a big deal, which is the one that has to do with their nuclear ambitions. They can never have a nuclear weapon. So the denuclearisation of Iran is the ultimate deal." He said the immediate priority centred on securing maritime access through two critical Middle Eastern energy routes. "I think the immediate deal, the one that there is focus on, is the Straits," he added, referring to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, which have faced periodic disruptions during the conflict involving Iran and its Houthi allies. "The Straits are open," Rubio said, repeating a line often touted by the Trump administration. "Nonetheless, I think that there's a conversation and a negotiation - that we are involved in - between Oman and Iran on how more ships can be able to go through there safely in the short term as we move towards the longer-term talks about denuclearization." Rubio said negotiations had
Middle East
Trump claims Iran talks near despite denials from Tehran
United States officials have said no new negotiations with Iran are planned, despite President Donald Trump's repeated claims that talks were set to begin on Monday. According to CBS News, discussions remain limited to existing indirect negotiations involving U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and the U.S. negotiating team, with Iranian officials communicating through mediators rather than in direct talks. The comments came after Trump said on Sunday that a "deal is imminent, having to do with the Hormuz Strait and also, ultimately, the denuclearisation of Iran", after cancelling planned military strikes that he said would have been the "biggest attacks since World War II". Iran's foreign ministry dismissed suggestions that direct negotiations with Washington were underway. "To avoid any misunderstanding, it is important to clarify what the current negotiations are about and who they are with. We are not negotiating with the United States at this time," foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said. "Our negotiations are with Oman and are focused on reaching an understanding on a route that will ensure the safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz," he said. Trump later described
Middle East
Trump delays Iran strike to allow nuclear deal talks
President Donald Trump said the United States will postpone a fresh military strike on Iran while negotiations continue over a deal aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Posting on his Truth Social platform late on Saturday, Trump said Iran and several Middle Eastern nations had requested additional time to finalise an agreement that would deliver "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the strategically important waterway and bring "an end to Iran's nuclear threat". Trump did not identify the countries involved. His comments came after a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump wrote. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that talks between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were nearing completion, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Iran last month publicly rejected an Omani proposal, backed by Gulf states, to jointly manage the strait. People familiar with the matter previously told Reuters the proposal included vol

Middle East
US-Iran conflict intensifies amid further sanctions
The United States-Iran conflict continued to escalate on Thursday, with fresh military action, expanding U.S. sanctions and growing disruption to commercial shipping across the region. Iran said U.S. strikes killed three of its soldiers, while Jordan reported intercepting Iranian missiles for a second consecutive day. Kuwait said one person was killed in a strike on its territory. Drone attacks also ignited fires aboard two natural gas vessels at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, marking what appears to be the first time Egypt has been directly targeted during the conflict. The source of the strike has not been confirmed, although Iran-backed Houthi forces have previously attacked vessels in the nearby Red Sea. The U.S. military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has redirected 24 commercial vessels since reimposing a blockade on Iranian ports earlier this month, up from 20 vessels reported the previous day. Since President Donald Trump reinstated the blockade, U.S. forces have boarded two vessels accused of violating the restrictions and fired upon two others to disable them, according to CENTCOM. While Washington continues to maintain that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic, shipping
Middle East
Trump threatens Iran after fresh attacks
The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would "be hitting them very hard" in response to new attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said: "We're going to be hitting them very hard because it's our turn to hit them. They know it's coming, they're asking us not to do it." U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it concluded Wednesday night's strikes on Iran at about 10 pm ET, targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites, including military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal defence positions and maritime capabilities. The comments followed a series of developments across the region, including joint U.S.-Saudi airstrikes on Iranian-backed forces in Iraq, fresh sanctions targeting entities accused of exploiting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and reports of drone attacks on vessels at an Egyptian port. At least 20 people were killed in joint U.S.-Saudi strikes on the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, according to the Iranian-backed umbrella paramilitary group. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were carried out late Tuesday a
Middle East
Iran fires missiles as Trump meets Netanyahu
The conflict between Iran and the United States continued on Tuesday after Tehran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East, while President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for talks centred on Iran and regional security. The meeting marked Netanyahu's first visit to Washington since the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Although Israel has not participated in the latest exchange of hostilities, fighting between Washington and Tehran earlier this month remains paused as diplomatic efforts continue to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Ahead of the meeting, Trump expressed confidence that negotiations could succeed but warned the military campaign could resume if diplomacy fails. "If the U.S. and Iran can't make a deal, we go back to doing what we were doing," Trump said. Meanwhile, Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. military positions, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which described the strike as an "attempted surprise attack". CENTCOM said all incoming missiles were successfully intercepted and no damage was reported. "U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readine
Middle East
Trump says Iran talks progressing despite strikes
United States President Donald Trump said Washington was holding "good talks" with Iran and expressed optimism that diplomacy could end the conflict, while warning that military strikes would resume if negotiations failed. Despite Trump's upbeat assessment, regional tensions remained elevated as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq reported drone attacks on Monday, suggesting Tehran was continuing to test the limits of the temporary pause in hostilities. Washington suspended its two-week air campaign against Iran on Saturday, marking Trump's latest strategic shift in the five-month conflict. "We're having good talks," he said. "I think there's a good chance that something could happen, and if it does, good, if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago." Speaking later at a campaign rally in Michigan, Trump struck a more forceful tone on Tehran. "You can't bribe them. You've got to beat them, and we'll beat the hell out of them. But we'll see how it turns out. Right now, there are very friendly negotiations going on." An Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday that Tehran would suspend its own attacks provided Trump's self-imposed ceasefire remained in place. However, Iran's central military comm