Washington Seeks Iranian Pledge on Strait of Hormuz Navigation

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed arrangements for ensuring the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani counterpart, Badr Al-Busaidi. This diplomatic engagement occurs as the United States intensifies efforts to secure a public pledge from Iran on maritime navigation freedom.

A statement from Zarif indicated that both sides "exchanged views on appropriate mechanisms to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz" in line with a ceasefire agreement. The Oman News Agency reported that talks between the Omani and Iranian delegations would continue at both technical and political levels.

This development follows U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue talks despite recent escalations. However, he also confirmed that a ceasefire agreement reached the previous month had "ended." A senior Iranian source told Reuters that arrangements were being made for a phone call involving Iran, the United States, Qatar, and Pakistan, with Omani mediation, though the success of these efforts remained unconfirmed.

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We consider the immense losses and damages suffered by the Venezuelan people recently as our own losses and pains.

U.S. officials are demanding that Iran explicitly declare a halt to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and ensure unimpeded passage through all maritime routes without imposing fees. Meanwhile, CNN reported that Oman had proposed a draft agreement. This proposal reportedly guarantees freedom of navigation through the southern corridor within Omani territorial waters and allows passage through the northern corridor in Iranian waters upon prior approval from Tehran, without fees.

Sultanate of Oman is playing a mediating role to de-escalate tensions that have risen since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which subsequently disrupted Gulf security and caused a global energy price surge. Zarif accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement by revoking the license for Iranian crude oil sales, asserting on X that "there can only be mutual commitment."

Conversely, U.S. officials stated that Iran had informed Washington that recent attacks in the Strait were carried out by an "uncontrolled element within its system," a move the U.S. viewed as a sign of willingness to contain escalation. In a related development, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, threatened retaliation for the killing of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowing in a statement that Iran "will avenge the blood of the martyred Supreme Leader and all martyrs." Trump responded by ordering the U.S. military to prepare for "thousands of missiles" on Iran if Tehran attempted to assassinate him, following media reports of intelligence indicating an Iranian plot against him.

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there can only be mutual commitment.