The United States has signalled hope for an imminent agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting a deal could materialise within hours. The announcement comes amid continued military incidents in the waterway and conflicting statements about ongoing negotiations between…
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Tuesday that a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be finalised within a day, following reports of another cargo vessel being struck in the contested waterway. President Trump had previously indicated that reopening negotiations might yield results by Tuesday, characterising the diplomatic process as straightforward. However, disagreement exists over the state of talks, with Iran's foreign ministry denying that direct negotiations with Washington are taking place, even as Trump insisted discussions are ongoing. Qatar, which has been mediating efforts, confirmed that diplomatic discussions continue but clarified that no direct Iran-US negotiations are currently scheduled.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint in hostilities that began in late February when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Despite subsequent ceasefires and preliminary agreements, the conflict has persisted, with the waterway serving as a recurring trigger for renewed fighting. A central point of contention involves Iran's demand to maintain control over and collect tolls from the strait—powers it did not exercise before the war and which the United States opposes. Trump has also emphasised dismantling Iran's nuclear programme, which Western nations believe aims to develop atomic weapons, though Tehran maintains its programme is purely civilian.
On Tuesday morning, Britain's maritime security agency reported that a cargo ship had been struck by an unknown projectile near Oman's coast. Iran currently maintains an effective blockade on the strait and insists vessels coordinate transits and follow routes hugging Iran's coastline. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have stated they are negotiating alternative shipping routes with Muscat, though they characterise this as separate from efforts to reopen the strait.
