The United States President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that no talks with Iran are planned. He insisted that the Strait of Hormuz remains open despite limited traffic and a reported strike on a ship leaving the waterway.
Earlier, Trump threatened military action against Oman as it pursued a deal with Iran to manage shipping through the strait. Iran stated the waterway would remain closed until its conditions were met. The situation escalated as a projectile damaged a ship in the strait, and Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for drone attacks on a Saudi oil refinery.
Strait of Hormuz Developments
Negotiations between Oman and Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue. Trump declared via social media that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains strict and that all mines have been cleared. He also mistakenly depicted the strait as part of U.S. territory on a map.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded assertively to Trump’s comments. The Trump administration opposes certain aspects of the proposed Oman-Iran deal, such as joint management and voluntary vessel fees, as revealed by officials preferring anonymity.
The White House referred to Trump’s Oval Office remarks, refraining from additional comments about Oman.
Potential for Iran-U.S. Negotiations
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry signaled that the Iranian-Omani agreement might open avenues for the U.S. and Iran to pursue a comprehensive deal bolstering regional stability. This statement followed a meeting between Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi, although it did not address Trump’s recent threat to Oman.
The 60-day negotiation period between the U.S. and Iran ended this week, with no resolution to the conflict imminent.
Ship Traffic and Security Concerns
Ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz saw a notable decline last week, with crossings falling 19.5% to 95. Only three ships traversed on Sunday, according to data from Kpler. All used the Iranian-designated route, bypassing Omani routes.
Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait rose 6.7% to 254 while dark transits, where ships deactivate location transponders, decreased from 40 to 16.
Incidents and Hostilities
An unidentified projectile struck a ship in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman, resulting in a crew casualty, as reported by the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations center. Details about the ship and casualties remain undisclosed, but no environmental harm seems evident.
Additionally, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed drone attacks on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery, raising concerns of further conflict in the region. This attack underscores increased assaults on Yemeni government forces and Saudi oil facilities, including transit routes like the Red Sea.