The United States has asked Iran to publicly guarantee the safety of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz before high level talks scheduled in Oman on Saturday.
According to US officials, Washington wants Tehran to confirm that the strategic waterway is open for international shipping and to promise that it will stop firing on commercial vessels.
US said Iranian officials privately told advisers to President Donald Trump that recent attacks on commercial ships were a mistake. They reportedly blamed the incidents on a rogue group inside Iran rather than the government.
President Trump said the United States has agreed to continue negotiations with Iran despite recent tensions in the Gulf. However, he also declared that the previous ceasefire agreement had ended after attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the US claims. In a post on X, he said Iran had honored the ceasefire and accused Washington of violating the agreement.
Senior US officials said Iran has been asked to issue a public statement confirming that commercial shipping will no longer be targeted. They warned that the outcome of the talks could depend on Tehran’s response.
The US delegation is expected to include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoffand Jared Kushner. Araghchi is expected to represent Iran during the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Qatar has sent a delegation to Iran to help reduce tensions and support efforts to keep shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz open.
In another development, Trump responded to reports that Iran had allegedly discussed plans to assassinate him. He warned that the United States would respond with overwhelming force if such an attack were carried out.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Any disruption in the waterway could affect global energy supplies and international trade.
The upcoming talks in Oman are expected to focus on restoring maritime security, protecting commercial shipping and preventing further conflict in the region.
