Mediation Continues Between Washington and Tehran.. "Complications" Delay Strait of Hormuz Deal

Anticipation remains the dominant mood, both regionally and internationally, regarding the official announcement of an agreement between Iran and the Sultanate of Oman to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the United States is intensifying diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on Tehran to reach a swift deal, as regional mediators continue their efforts to find a suitable basis for resuming negotiations between the two sides, aiming to end the current stalemate and halt the conflict that has persisted for more than five months.

In this context, The Wall Street Journal cited U.S. officials, who wished to remain anonymous, as saying that President Donald Trump might extend the ceasefire on the condition that Iran curbs its nuclear program and resumes navigation in the strait. The U.S. officials added that “President Trump is showing patience regarding the crisis with Tehran,” and they anticipated that he might lift the naval blockade imposed on Iran if it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

Al Jazeera satellite channel quoted U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance as saying that the United States is close to reaching an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, which could be finalized in the coming days.

In press comments regarding the prospects of resolving the dispute between Washington and Tehran, Vance noted that “Iranians have suffered severe strikes and major pressures that have exhausted them,” emphasizing that Washington is waiting to see what the Iranian side will offer in the near future to assess the extent to which it meets its conditions.

In a related development, Al Jazeera reported that the delay in announcing the Iran-Oman agreement on the Strait of Hormuz is due to technical and legal complexities, as well as the waiting for approval from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council. According to Al Jazeera, Tehran is conditioning the official announcement of the agreement on the Strait of Hormuz on the lifting of U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade on its ports.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that his country is exchanging messages with the United States through mediators, “but we are not currently negotiating with Washington.”

Araghchi noted in press comments yesterday that “mediators are working to create a suitable foundation for resuming negotiations” between Tehran and Washington. He added, “Our negotiations with the Sultanate of Oman regarding the establishment of a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz have continued positively, and it can be said that we are in the final stages. The old routes in the strait will be replaced by new ones, and experts are currently working on determining the relevant maps.”