President Trump Predicts Near-Term Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Iran-Oman Negotiations
President Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened "very soon" or the United States would launch a harsh new attack on Iran. The vital waterway, which carries approximately 20% of global crude oil, has been effectively closed by Iran since the States and Israel began hostilities in February. While the administration announced that negotiations are underway, Iran has denied holding direct talks with the United States, insisting that discussions with Oman are strictly bilateral. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi noted that while a framework for commercial shipping routes is being finalized with Oman, it does not automatically guarantee the reopening of the strait. The agreement depends on specific preconditions, including US compliance with previous commitments. Simultaneously, maritime tensions persist in the Red Sea, where an Indian-flagged vessel was recently sunk by a projectile. The administration also warned that the US military has depleted nearly 80% of its interceptors for a key missile defense system during the ongoing conflict.