JERUSALEM, Israel – As the U.S. and Iran appear to be moving toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major concern is emerging: Tehran could gain unprecedented control over one of the world’s most critical oil checkpoints.
Iran and Oman have agreed on geographic coordinates for a temporary 60-day shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says negotiations are nearly complete.
He announced, “I can say that the latest situation is that almost all of the topics (are) under discussion…meaning we have made significant progress in our discussions with Oman and this progress is on the verge of being finalized.”
Under the proposal, inbound vessels would coordinate with Iran, while outbound traffic would be managed by Oman.
The agreement would clear mines from the central shipping lane and allow commercial traffic to resume. However, Iran claims that the Strait will not fully reopen until the U.S. lifts its naval blockade and ends attacks on Iranian ports.
President Trump indicated that a deal could come at any moment, calling it Iran’s “last chance.”
Israeli officials are concerned that Washington is pursuing an agreement at almost any cost.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled on Wednesday that Israel is prepared to act alone if necessary after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps again vowed to continue developing its nuclear program.
“Today, we heard the commander of the Revolutionary Guards…explicitly declare Iran’s intention to continue developing nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu stated, and added, “Well … I am also determined to continue, to continue preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.”
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Meanwhile, another front is heating up in the Red Sea.
Houthi Military Spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree asserted, “The Yemeni armed forces were able to target the Saudi oil tanker Wafa in the northern Red Sea of the coast of (Saudi port) Yanbu, with a number of ballistic missiles.”
It is the eighth vessel targeted by the Houthis since the blockade began on July 22nd.
In Rome, Israel-Lebanon peace talks collapsed as the Israel Defense Forces launched precision strikes against Hezbollah targets, citing a ceasefire violation. Overnight, Israel also announced that two soldiers were killed and four seriously wounded during operations in southern Lebanon.
In the U.S., Agdul El-Sayed, a leftist Democrat, won his party’s primary for the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, a victory many see as another sign of the party’s growing shift toward the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel movement.
President Trump blasted El-Sayed, linking him to Communist ideology.
He warned, “And that’s where the communists will take us 100%. When I watch Abdul (El-Sayed), he’s full of (BLEEP).”
