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KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 – Iran has announced that negotiations with Oman are nearing an agreement on a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, hours after the United States postponed plans for a major attack to provide space for diplomatic efforts.
US President Donald Trump said Washington and Israel had agreed to delay further attacks on Iran because they believed the foundations of a possible agreement were already in place.
The United States and Israel have been engaged in conflict with Iran since February 28, when Washington and Tel Aviv launched surprise strikes against the country. Periodic negotiations had helped contain tensions, but renewed attacks last month raised fears of another major escalation.
Trump had previously threatened strong action against Tehran and was reportedly considering further strikes, including attacks on energy infrastructure. US embassies across West Asia were also placed on heightened alert amid concerns that the confrontation could widen.
His position appeared to shift following renewed diplomatic efforts, including discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump said Iran and several West Asian countries had asked the United States to delay military action because the basic framework for an agreement had been developed.
Trump said he agreed to cancel the planned attack in the interest of global stability and Iran’s future prosperity, provided an agreement could be concluded quickly. Iranian media, however, denied that Tehran had requested the cancellation, leaving uncertainty over the exact status of the negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz has become the central issue in the diplomatic process. Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission, said mediators were attempting to revive the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding agreed in June.
He explained that the memorandum was not a final peace agreement but an initial step towards broader talks, including discussions over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and gas shipments. Before the conflict, vessels were permitted to pass freely, but Iran closed the strait during the war and now wants to retain greater control while charging ships for passage. The United States has rejected that position.
Washington has insisted that any agreement must include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what it describes as Iran’s nuclear threat. Western governments accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is intended solely for civilian purposes.
The disagreement over Hormuz was among the factors behind renewed attacks last month. Tehran had reportedly refused to allow ships to use routes other than the passage close to Iran’s coastline.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said discussions with Oman, which lies across the strait, were close to producing a mutually acceptable route.
He said the proposed passage would be neither a northern nor southern route, but one that respects the sovereign rights of both countries while protecting their national interests and security.
Baqaei stressed that reaching an agreement on the new route would not mean the Strait of Hormuz was being completely reopened.
This distinction suggests that Iran may continue seeking some level of control over maritime traffic even if the talks with Oman succeed.
Maritime trade-monitoring firm Kpler reported that vessel traffic through the strait had declined sharply amid the conflict and continuing uncertainty over access to the waterway.
