Iran and Oman Reach Draft Hormuz Agreement, Await Supreme Leader's Approval

Two regional officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday, Aug. 5, that negotiators from Iran and Oman have reached agreement on a draft text for resolving the standoff over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The draft, the officials said, now awaits final approval from Iran's supreme leader. The potential accord is intended as a temporary solution to the dispute between Washington and Tehran over shipping through the waterway, according to the officials. They also said the draft is linked to a pact reached in June between the United States and Iran, which sought to end hostilities and reopen the strait but ultimately failed to hold. The officials added that the new draft could open the way for the two countries to restart negotiations and reach a final agreement on Tehran's nuclear program. No further details were disclosed. The Associated Press reported the development.