US awaits Iran, Oman deal on Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN:

An Iranian official said a preliminary framework of understanding with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz has been agreed, with the final text and details to be announced after approval by senior authorities, Al Jazeera reported on Friday.

According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament's National Security Commission, Hassan Ghashghavi, said the general framework had been finalised but stressed that the agreement still required approval "at higher levels" before it could be formally announced.

Progress is being made between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz and "we expect a deal soon," a US official told Reuters on Friday.

Once a deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift its blockade of Iranian ports, the official said.

"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the Strait, and we expect a deal soon," the official said. "Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports."

"As always, US actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran's implementation of its commitments," the official said.

US President Donald Trump said Iranian officials want to reach an agreement with Washington and "don't want to be hit," following months of escalating tensions in the Middle East. "Look, it's obvious they don't want to be hit. They want to make a deal. So, we'll see," Trump told Punchbowl News in an interview released on Friday.

Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement on June 18 and began negotiations on a final deal, but the talks later stalled amid disagreements over security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions flared again last month after the US carried out fresh strikes inside Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks across the region, including in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Iranian lawmakers are waiting for "final approval" on a proposed framework agreement with Oman for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's state media.

As details of a tentative agreement started to emerge on Friday, Iran's state-affiliated Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the broad framework "has more or less been agreed with Oman," citing a spokesperson for the parliament's National Security Commission.

However, "final approval still has to be given at higher levels," the spokesperson said. "We have to wait, and hopefully the final outcome and the details will be announced soon."

One fifth of global oil supplies used to travel through the strait, which Tehran has effectively shuttered after joint US-Israeli strikes sparked regional fighting in February. Iran has used it as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the US.

Earlier this month, Iranian and Omani officials began discussions to agree a framework for commercial shipping to travel through the channel.

Under the agreement, Iranian and Omani routes will remain in use temporarily before traffic is redirected through a central course, Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency said on Friday. Officials in Iran would oversee inbound traffic, while their Omani counterparts would manage outbound traffic, Fars said.

It is unclear whether Oman or the United States has acceded to the arrangement described by Fars.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi met with Saudi's intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan as Iraqi militias postponed retaliatory attacks for deadly US-Saudi strikes on the country.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of pro-Iran militias, said that the delay was due to "honorable positions taken by some honorable political leaders."

"We call on those whose pursuit of power has blinded them to the need to safeguard blood and violated sovereignty to reconsider their positions and come to their senses," the resistance group said in a statement.

The militias also warned the US that the "fists of the loyal" would restore their sovereignty.

On Thursday, a Saudi official told CNN that the kingdom was bracing for "multiple coordinated attacks" by Iraqi militia factions and Iran-backed Houthis.

On Friday, the Iraqi leader and Saudi intelligence chief agreed to continue the "security coordination and information-sharing" between the two countries.

Al-Zaidi also reiterated the Iraqi government's "firm position on protecting Iraq's sovereignty and the interests of its people, and on not allowing Iraqi territory to be used as a launching point for any actions or activities targeting another country," according to a statement from the prime minister's office.

(With additional input from News Desk)