US-Qatari optimism over agreement with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz
- Tehran seeks to control entry into Hormuz and monitor departures
- Rubio speaks of progress in talks on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program
- Bulk cargo ship struck by projectile near the strait
Amid hopes for a near-term agreement to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, after a new cargo ship was hit, the United States and Qatar announced that mediators are making significant progress in efforts to end the war, despite Tehran’s denial of US President Donald Trump’s claim that talks are already underway, and its pursuit of control over entry into the strait and monitoring of departures.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress had been made in talks with Iran and Oman regarding allowing more ships to pass through the strait, “but a final agreement has not yet been reached. We hope it will happen very soon.”
He stressed that “President Trump was clear that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon, and therefore the agreement is about ensuring that.”
He announced that “progress has been made in talks on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, although we have not yet reached a final outcome, and we hope that will be achieved soon.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC, “We are holding talks with the Iranians, and I believe there is a chance of reaching an agreement today or tomorrow to open the strait and move toward greater normalization of the situation in this conflict.”
When asked whether the agreement would allow Iran to impose fees on ships transiting the strait, Bessent replied, “I believe it will ensure freedom of navigation.”
He noted that “despite the instability in the area over the past few days, we have seen a large number of ships cross the strait so far.”
Bessent’s comments aligned with Trump’s statement on Monday night that the waterway could be reopened within hours, noting that “talks are underway now” and describing them as a “last chance” for the Iranians to reach a “good” agreement.
In Doha, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said diplomatic communications had reached very advanced stages.
He added that mediators, including Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman, are closely coordinating their efforts to facilitate negotiations and exchange draft proposals between Washington and Tehran.
He affirmed that his country “is not setting timelines for reaching any agreement,” pointing out that Qatar’s position is a return to the previous status quo in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law and in consultation with all littoral states, emphasizing that any future arrangements for its management must be reached through regional consensus, preventing its use as a tool for pressure or escalation.
In this context, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a rapid resumption of negotiations based on the Islamabad memorandum signed on June 17.
A senior Pakistani security official said, “A lot is happening behind the scenes... We are talking to both sides. Our only goal at the moment is to get both sides to agree at least to start talking.”
In Tehran, a senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran seeks to control the entry route of navigation into Hormuz and monitor departures, with the possibility of intervention if necessary, as part of a plan under discussion with the Sultanate of Oman to reopen this strategic waterway.
The source, who is participating in the talks, clarified that this “general idea is currently under discussion,” noting that the navigation exit route would be between Iran and Oman, and that the Sultanate would issue exit permits after notifying Iran.
These moves come at a time when the Strait of Hormuz has witnessed a series of security incidents in recent days, the latest of which was an attack on a cargo ship by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman, along with attacks on other commercial vessels, heightening concerns over navigation security in the waterway through which a significant portion of global oil and gas exports pass.
