Rabat – US President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday, as Iran and Oman continue talks over safe navigation through the waterway.
“It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day,” Trump said when asked about reports that an announcement could be imminent, adding that negotiators had made progress.
In a later interview with Reuters, Trump said the strait would reopen soon and warned that Iran would face a forceful US response if it withdrew from the discussions.
Iran and Oman are negotiating safe shipping lanes through the strait. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the talks were positive and ongoing, focusing on protecting both countries’ sovereign rights and national security.
According to two regional officials cited by the Associated Press, the proposed arrangement would allow ships to enter the Persian Gulf through a route controlled by Iran and leave through a route controlled by Oman. The plan could also include service fees for security and environmental protection.
Washington has opposed both tolls and any arrangement that would give Iran control over the strait. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress had been made in the Iran-Oman talks and expressed hope that an agreement could emerge soon.
Before the war, about one fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions have reduced shipping and contributed to higher fuel and goods prices beyond the region.
The current discussions follow a June agreement to reopen the strait, which collapsed after attacks resumed. Trump has described reopening the waterway as the first phase of a broader process, with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program expected afterward.
