The "Hormuz Agreement" is ready: a new route for ship passage
Washington, D.C. – Agencies: Pakistan expressed hope yesterday that an agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz would lead to the resumption of talks between the United States and Iran, as part of a memorandum of understanding that Islamabad helped broker. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told journalists, “We hope that the agreement on the strait will pave the way for continuing dialogue, particularly the resumption of technical-level talks between Iran and the United States.”
Iran announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with the Sultanate of Oman on a new route for ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy supplies that lies at the heart of the confrontation with the United States. However, Iranian sources confirmed to local media that the reopening of the strait would depend on Washington’s behavior, which is currently imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei, in remarks carried by the state-run Iranian News Agency (IRNA), said, “Geographic coordinates for the route envisioned by both sides have been agreed upon.” He added that “the joint statement of the two countries, which includes key considerations and points of agreement, is also in the final stages of review and drafting,” provided that “certain third parties do not obstruct the process.”
For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump said he prefers reaching an agreement with Iran but emphasized that “the use of force remains an option” if the diplomatic track fails. He made these remarks during an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he addressed Iran policy in the context of foreign affairs. Trump reiterated his warning that the United States would not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, adding, “It’s better to reach an agreement with them because I don’t want people to die.” He noted that the U.S. had been prepared to launch “the largest attack since World War II” but suspended strikes in response to requests from Gulf leaders and “Iranian officials who expressed a desire to stop the attack and hold talks.” He said, “They called me and said, ‘Please don’t do that, let’s talk.’ And we are having talks now; we’ll see what happens, but they are showing us respect.”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said negotiations on an agreement with Iran would be “complex and thorny, and will take time,” noting that “the Iranians are extremely difficult to deal with and have a divided system.” In an interview with Fox News, Vance added, “Our mission is to handle this situation and achieve the best outcome for the American people.” He continued, “But we are still in the midst of the process, and I think people are trying to jump ahead and prejudge how things will go.”
Meanwhile, Trump asserted yesterday that the United States has “massive” quantities of ammunition, threatening to pursue those who claim otherwise, following a journalistic report about stock shortages and a dispute with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war with Iran. The Republican president condemned these reports on his platform, Truth Social, insisting that Washington has “massive quantities of ammunition, especially of certain types,” without providing further details. He added, “In addition, large quantities are being manufactured and shipped to the United States as needed. Defense companies are building more factories and facilities than ever before in our country.”
The Washington Post published a report Wednesday evening stating that Trump had demanded explanations from the Defense Secretary regarding ammunition shortages during a government meeting held at the presidential retreat Camp David on Friday. On Thursday, Trump launched a sharp attack on these reports, characterizing the leaks as “treason” and threatening their sources with prosecution and calls for “long prison sentences.”
