US President Donald Trump announced that new talks with Iran will begin on Monday, after he called off planned military strikes to facilitate negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. The decision comes amid reports that Iran is close to a deal with Oman over a new maritime route through the strait, where a tanker reported an explosion nearby (channelstv.com).
The White House confirmed that the pause in military action was requested by Iran and US allies including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, allowing for diplomatic engagement (thejournal.ie). US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the military remains prepared, describing the situation as “locked and loaded” (samaa.tv).
Iran’s representative, Baghaei, reported progress in discussions with Oman, indicating that the two nations are nearing an agreement on the new route through the strategic waterway (aljazeera.com). Meanwhile, Trump emphasized that the “perimeters” of a deal were in place, reinforcing the urgency of the talks (vanguardngr.com).
The potential agreement could ease tensions and impact global oil markets, as the Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for oil exports (ibtimes.com.au). The outcome of these negotiations will be closely watched by regional and international stakeholders.
