Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 3 that its talks with Oman on shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz are still underway and have entered the “final stage,” according to BlockBeats. Oil prices fell on Monday as expectations for easing tensions in the Middle East picked up. WTI crude at one point dropped more than 7%, while Brent crude fell more than 5% to around $83 a barrel.
Iran says talks are not being held directly with the U.S.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said the current negotiations are not direct talks with the United States. Instead, they are discussions between Iran and Oman on how to ensure ships can move safely through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the goal is to settle on a temporary shipping route as soon as possible.
Iran also said changes in the strait’s status are linked to U.S. military action. As long as those actions continue, Tehran said, there will be no major change in conditions in the waterway.
Strait remains effectively closed
Earlier reports said Iran and Oman were discussing the reopening of a “middle corridor.” That route, however, may contain mines, and mine-clearing work would still be needed before normal shipping could resume.
For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, with only a small number of authorized vessels allowed to travel through it on designated routes.
Trump and Gulf states comment on the situation
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously said an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz might be close. He also said he had canceled a planned military strike because Gulf countries were pushing diplomacy.
At the same time, Trump said the United States was maintaining military pressure and that any agreement would need to include the “full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz” as well as a resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have continued to call for a diplomatic easing of tensions, citing concern that a wider conflict could trigger more attacks and disrupt regional energy and economic stability. Military threats between Iran and the United States have not fully disappeared.