U.S. President Donald Trump has issued another warning to Oman as Iran reveals ongoing collaboration with the Gulf nation to regulate shipping activities in the Strait of Hormuz. Reopening the strait is a significant demand from the United States.
As the 60-day negotiation period for a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran neared its end, there was no information on a possible extension, with both sides seemingly no closer to reaching a resolution.
In recent developments on Monday, Iran disclosed that it has made progress in discussions with Oman regarding a plan for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei mentioned that an agreement has been reached on the transit route map, and efforts are underway to finalize a joint statement with Oman.
This potential agreement could see ships entering the strait near Iran and exiting close to Oman without incurring fees during a transitional period. The U.S. has been pushing for a viable deal to reopen the strait before lifting the blockade on Iranian ports.
In a previous statement, Trump reportedly threatened Oman, stating that the U.S. would take military action against the country if it interfered with the situation. This is not the first time Trump has made such threats, as he previously warned Oman during a cabinet meeting to comply or face consequences.
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacking a ship and four military boats in the Red Sea near Mokha. The rebels allegedly used ballistic missiles in the assault, leading to the sinking and burning of the vessels. The targeted ships were said to belong to Saudi Arabia, although no evidence was provided to support this claim.
In a separate incident, drone attacks targeted Iraqi officials in northern Iraq, with the regional counterterrorism service attributing the attacks to the Iran-Iraq border. The attacks were aimed at the office of Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, and the residence of a senior regional intelligence official.
As the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continues, Iran and Iranian-backed groups have carried out several attacks on U.S. and diplomatic facilities in Iraq. However, the direct drone strike on regional government buildings represents an unusual escalation in tensions.
Amid these events, U.S. forces in the Kurdish region of Iraq have commenced withdrawal operations ahead of the agreed deadline of September 30 to end the American military presence in the country.
