Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Omani-mediated discussions involving Iran and the United States are moving forward, though no agreement has been reached to restore safe commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have advanced but remain unresolved, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, one day after President Donald Trump warned that Iran was being given a final opportunity to reach an agreement before facing a major U.S. military operation.
Rubio said Oman and Iran are engaged in negotiations with U.S. participation, focusing first on restoring safe passage for commercial vessels through one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Any maritime agreement would be followed by broader discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear program and a possible end to the war.
“There’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet,” Rubio said in remarks carried by CBS News. “We’re hoping that will happen very shortly.”
His comments provided the clearest indication from the administration that negotiations may be moving toward an initial arrangement after months of warfare, maritime restrictions and attacks affecting commercial shipping.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered an even more immediate assessment Tuesday, saying he believed an agreement reopening the strait could be reached “today or tomorrow.”
During an appearance on CNBC highlighted by Newsmax, Bessent said negotiators had made significant progress. He argued that restoring commercial traffic would help move regional conditions toward greater stability while the United States and Iran continue addressing the larger conflict.
Financial markets responded positively to the possibility of an agreement. U.S. stocks rose sharply Tuesday, while oil prices declined as investors anticipated that resumed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could ease pressure on international energy supplies, according to CBS News.
Approximately one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil shipments pass through the narrow waterway, making disruptions there capable of affecting fuel prices, shipping costs and markets worldwide.
Trump’s administration has made restoring navigation through the strait an immediate objective while pursuing a broader agreement intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The latest diplomatic movement followed Trump’s decision to postpone a large-scale strike against Iran. Speaking Monday, the president said he wanted to allow Tehran one final opportunity to negotiate.
“I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” Trump said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Although U.S. officials have characterized Washington as participating in the negotiations, Iran has publicly disputed Trump’s assertion that broader direct talks are underway.
Tehran has acknowledged discussing maritime security with Oman but maintains that those conversations concern safe navigation rather than comprehensive negotiations with the United States. Iranian officials have also continued asserting a role in controlling or influencing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman is serving as the intermediary between the two countries, allowing messages and proposals to move between Washington and Tehran despite their conflicting public descriptions of the process.
Military pressure has continued alongside the diplomatic effort.
U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that American forces have redirected 45 commercial vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports since the United States reinstated its maritime blockade last month. Two ships have been boarded, while two others have been disabled during that period, according to CBS News.
The administration is attempting to use the blockade and other military measures to pressure Iran while limiting further disruption to international shipping and energy markets.
Fighting elsewhere in the region has continued as negotiations proceed.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed Tuesday that they had carried out a drone attack against a target at an airport in southern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities had not commented on the claim as of Tuesday afternoon, CBS News reported.
Rubio’s remarks indicate that an agreement governing commercial traffic could precede any comprehensive settlement. While U.S. officials expressed optimism that the strait may reopen soon, unresolved disagreements over Iran’s nuclear activities, maritime influence and the broader war continue to complicate the negotiations.
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