- Iran has said a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is "on the verge of being finalised" after both countries confirmed they had agreed on coordinates for shipping routes through the critical waterway.
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, has accused US President Donald Trump of "theatre diplomacy" as Tehran awaits US nod on the deal.
- Trump expressed a preference for diplomacy at a Las Vegas rally, saying "I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to kill people. I do not want to kill people, but at some point we're gonna."
- Iran has warned Gulf states that any new US attack on its territory would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure across the region, according to five sources.
- A Gulf source told Reuters: "The Iranian warning was unequivocal: if America targeted Iran's infrastructure, they would retaliate by striking Gulf energy facilities and other regional targets."
Iran and Oman are on the brink of finalizing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route, amid rising tensions with the United States.1
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticized President Trump for engaging in what he termed 'theatre diplomacy' as Tehran awaits a U.S. response to the agreement.2
The deal would allow Iran to impose fees on vessels using the strait, with Iran seeking between 5% and 7% of cargo prices, while Oman proposes around 3%, and Washington prefers no fees at all.
This agreement would significantly shift regional power dynamics in favor of Iran, following a U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched in February.
In a related warning, Iran has threatened retaliation against Gulf energy infrastructure if the U.S. attacks its territory, indicating a strategy to raise the stakes for military action against its allies.
Trump, addressing supporters in Las Vegas, reiterated his preference for diplomacy, stating, 'I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to kill people.' This reflects a complex interplay of military and diplomatic strategies as the U.S. navigates its relationship with Iran and its regional allies.
“The agreement would give Iran authority over traffic through the strait, shifting regional power in Tehran's favor after the February US-Israel war. Iran has warned Gulf states that any new US attack would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure, per five sources.”
