Lead

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress has been made in negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, raising hopes that one of the key sticking points in efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran could soon be resolved. The update came during a meeting with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on nuclear cooperation, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera’s coverage of the developments focuses on the diplomatic track involving the US, Iran, and Oman. The outlet reports that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said an agreement could be reached as early as “today or tomorrow,” while diplomatic sources in Tehran also suggested a deal was possible by the end of Wednesday. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with Oman had been “positive” and were continuing, noting that discussions were focused on establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes through the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the main sticking points in negotiations between the US and Iran following months of conflict, according to Al Jazeera. Officials are seeking to agree on a mechanism that would allow shipping to resume safely through the waterway. Oman has been mediating the discussions, with US officials saying Washington is involved in the negotiations while Iran maintains it is negotiating with Oman rather than directly with the US.

Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz remains open and vessels are continuing to transit the waterway. However, Washington is working on an agreement that would allow more ships to pass through safely in the short term before negotiations move to broader issues, including what he described as the “ultimate deal”, the denuclearisation of Iran.

Key Claims

  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says progress has been made in talks between Oman and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
  • US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said an agreement could be reached as early as “today or tomorrow.”
  • Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with Oman had been “positive” and were continuing, with discussions focused on safe shipping lanes.
  • The Strait of Hormuz has become a main sticking point in US-Iran negotiations.
  • Oman has been mediating the discussions.
  • Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Perspectives

Iran: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described talks with Oman as “positive” and continuing, focusing on safe shipping lanes. He said the talks had been assessed positively at both political and technical levels, although differences remain over how the strait would operate, including the mechanism for reopening, maritime service fees, and other security arrangements.

United States: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress had been made in negotiations and Washington was involved, though no final agreement had been reached. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested an agreement could come as early as “today or tomorrow.” Rubio described the broader goal as the “ultimate deal,” the denuclearisation of Iran.