President Donald Trump said the U.S. is negotiating a deal with Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz this week [1].
A resolution to the blockade is critical for global energy markets, as nearly one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait [2].
Speaking at a press briefing in Washington, D.C., Trump said he would rather make a diplomatic deal than kill people [1]. He said that an announcement regarding the strait could happen today or tomorrow [3]. The president said that while he seeks a diplomatic path, Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons [1].
As part of the evolving negotiations, Trump dropped a 48-hour deadline previously set for an Iran deal [4]. The president said that the U.S. possesses massive amounts of munitions [2]. However, a U.S. official told ABC News that interceptor stocks are significantly reduced [2].
Trump said a deal to reopen the strait could be announced in the next few hours [2]. The discussions involve Oman as a mediator to facilitate the agreement between the U.S. and Iranian governments [1]. Trump said the goal is to maintain regional stability, and avoid the loss of life through diplomacy [1].
“"Rather make a deal with Iran, don't want to kill people."”
The shift from a strict 48-hour deadline to open-ended negotiations suggests a strategic pivot toward diplomacy to prevent a global energy crisis. By utilizing Oman as a mediator, the U.S. is attempting to balance the immediate economic necessity of reopening a vital oil artery with the long-term security goal of preventing Iranian nuclear proliferation.
