Iran says Hormuz deal ‘nearing completion’

Negotiations with Oman are in the final stage, provided “certain third parties do not obstruct the process,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said A deal between Iran and Oman on reopening commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is close to being finalized, according to the Foreign Ministry in Tehran. Around one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil has historically passed through the strategic waterway.The proposed agreement would establish a new corridor through the strait, with Iran expected to gain greater control over vessels entering the Persian Gulf while Oman would oversee outbound traffic, according to media reports.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters on Thursday that negotiations were “nearing completion,” with Iran and Oman having agreed on the routes and in the final stage of drafting a joint statement, provided “certain third parties do not obstruct the process.”Officials in Tehran maintain that reopening the strait depends on the US ending its naval blockade of Iranian ports and other military actions against the Islamic Republic. US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that talks were “moving along nicely” and predicted the...