U.S. President Donald Trump has once again issued a warning to Oman, while Iran announced a collaboration with the Gulf Arab nation to coordinate maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Reopening the strait has been a key demand from the U.S. as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to find a peace deal were set to expire without any indication of an extension.
Iran disclosed that it has reached a consensus with Oman regarding a plan for ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, with efforts underway to finalize a joint statement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed the agreement in Tehran, mentioning that progress has been made on the transit route map but did not provide further details. The deal is anticipated to allow ships to enter the strait near Iran and exit near Oman without payment of fees during an interim period, a move the U.S. has been seeking before lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.
On a separate note, President Trump reportedly threatened Oman during an interview with Fox News, stating that the U.S. would take military action against Oman if it obstructed their plans. This is not the first time that Trump has made such threats towards Oman, as he previously mentioned during a cabinet meeting that Oman needed to comply or face consequences.
In a related development, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacking a ship and four military boats in the Red Sea near Mokha, off the coast of Yemen. The rebels launched ballistic missiles at the vessels allegedly belonging to Saudi Arabia, causing them to capsize and catch fire. The incident occurred close to the Bab el-Mandab Strait, with no immediate response from Saudi Arabia to the claims made by the rebels.
Furthermore, drone attacks targeted two officials in northern Iraq, suspected to have been launched from the border with Iran. The attacks aimed at the office of Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, and a top regional intelligence official’s residence. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in these incidents.
As tensions persist in the region, with ongoing conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, it remains crucial for diplomatic efforts to resume to avoid further escalation of hostilities.