Washington lifts sanctions on three Iran-linked companies... Trump threatens 'very strong' strike if 'Hormuz' is not opened

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the lifting of certain sanctions related to Iran, as U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened “very soon,” threatening that Iran would face a very strong strike if it did not. Trump said during a visit to California, “We are having very good discussions,” emphasizing Tehran’s commitment to reaching an agreement. Axios, citing regional officials and an unnamed U.S. official, reported that the proposed agreement includes arrangements lasting sixty days to ensure safe navigation through the strait between Iran and the Sultanate of Oman.

In its own statement, the U.S. Treasury announced on its website that the United States had lifted counterterrorism-related sanctions imposed on two aircraft and three airlines linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Fox News, meanwhile, quoted a department official as saying that the lifting of sanctions does not indicate a shift in U.S. policy toward Iran or the Quds Force.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Iran and Oman had agreed on a route for ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz and were putting the finishing touches on an agreement to jointly manage transit operations. Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, quoted ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying, “The geographical coordinates of the route envisioned by both sides have been agreed upon, and the joint statement of the two countries, which includes the main considerations and points of agreement, is also in the final stage of review and drafting.”

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