U.S. President Donald Trump has once again issued a warning to Oman as Iran announces collaboration with the Gulf Arab nation on a strategy to regulate shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The complete reopening of the water passage has been a significant request from the U.S. Meanwhile, the 60-day negotiation window for a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has lapsed with no indication of an extension, leaving both parties seemingly as distant as they were at the outset. Here is a summary of the most recent developments in the Iran conflict on Monday.
**Iran Progressing Toward Agreement with Oman**
Iran has declared that it has made progress with Oman on a plan for ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the two nations. Efforts are underway to finalize the specifics for a joint statement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, speaking in Tehran, stated that there is a mutual understanding regarding the transit route map. Although not providing further details, previous information suggests that the agreement would allow ships to pass through the strait without fees or tolls, entering near Iran and exiting close to Oman. The U.S. has been pushing for a satisfactory deal to reopen the strait before lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. Iran had closed the strait following attacks by Israel and the U.S. on Feb. 28, disrupting the flow of approximately one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies. Baghaei acknowledged that discussions with Oman have progressed slowly but emphasized the intention to finalize the agreement as a comprehensive package comprising the map and a joint statement.
**Past Trump Warning Directed at Oman**
In an interview with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump stated that the U.S. would take military action against Oman if it interfered, using a strong language for emphasis. This is not the first instance of Trump threatening Oman. In a previous incident in May, he had mentioned during a Cabinet meeting that Oman needed to comply like other nations, or else face consequences. Trump dismissed the significance of the 60-day deadline for peace talks and confirmed the existence of a back channel for discussions with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
**Houthi Rebels Claim Attacks**
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, asserted that they had targeted a ship and four military boats in the Red Sea near Mokha, Yemen, close to the Bab el-Mandab Strait. The rebels reported launching ballistic missiles that led to the sinking and burning of the vessels, which they claimed belonged to Saudi Arabia. There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia, and the claim could not be independently verified. Additionally, the rebels stated that they had carried out a drone strike on government forces in Marib province.
**Drone Strikes on Iraqi Officials**
In northern Iraq, two officials were targeted in drone attacks believed to originate from the Iran border, as stated by the regional counterterrorism service. One drone struck the office of Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, while another targeted the residence of a senior regional intelligence official. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. The incident marks a departure from the usual attacks on U.S. facilities and Iranian Kurdish dissident groups, with this direct assault on regional government establishments being uncommon. Barzani condemned the attack as a severe escalation jeopardizing the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region. Meanwhile, U.S. forces in the Kurdish region of Iraq have initiated a withdrawal ahead of the agreed-upon Sept. 30 deadline to end the American military presence in Iraq.