Iran, Oman seek temporary deal for Strait of Hormuz

The foreign ministers of Iran and Oman said Tuesday that they were negotiating a framework for managing the Strait of Hormuz. The framework would include a temporary corridor through the strait, managed by both countries, along with a joint project to clear mines from the waterway. The two countries said they were continuing talks with a view toward a permanent plan for navigation and administration of the strait. Such a plan would establish mechanisms for communication, security, and traffic management, they said. Iran and Oman also said they planned to hold joint talks with other regional states.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no mines remained in the strait’s international waters. The U.S. Space Force was closely surveilling the strait, and the United States had warned Iran that any ship placing new mines would be immediately destroyed, he said.

How have Iranian officials responded to the United States’ expanded sanctions announced Monday? The Iranian government planned to counter the sanctions, including by taking measures against countries that helped America cut off Iran’s economic participation, according to state-run Fars News.

The statement came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that the United States expected partner countries to sever any economic connections with Iran. He also said that America would remove any entities doing business with Iran from its financial system. The sanctions would likely include many Chinese businesses and individuals. China, one of Iran’s largest trading partners, referred to the sanctions as illegal and pledged to safeguard its interests, according to the China Global South Project, a news website.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on the comprehensive new U.S. sanctions.