• US President Donald Trump says talks with Iran are under way, warning that the negotiations are Tehran’s “last chance” to secure a deal and end the five-month conflict.
• Tehran denies talks with Washington, saying it is speaking to Oman over the Strait of Hormuz. It says progress has been made to provide a temporary safe route in the waterway.
• The US military says it is continuing to “strictly enforce” its blockade of Iranian ports and has so far redirected 44 commercial vessels, disabled two and boarded two others.

Projectile strikes cargo vessel off Oman

A cargo vessel has reported being struck by an unknown projectile 20 nautical miles (37km) northeast of Khasab, Oman, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency says.

UKMTO said authorities are investigating the incident.

It advised vessels in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

Trump confirms previous ‘massive’ US strike plan for Iran, but says he opted for restraint

The US president essentially confirmed what had been widely reported late last week – that he had been presented with a plan by the Pentagon that would entail a massive US military attack on Iranian targets, much bigger than anything seen so far in the war, which began on February 28.

However, the president told reporters [in the Oval Office] that after entreaties from countries in the region, he decided to exercise restraint and not authorise attacks that could have led to the deaths of possibly thousands of people inside Iran.

He reiterated that it is up to the Iranian government to do the right thing and agree to terms that would include not pursuing nuclear weapons, as well as not seeking singular control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran says talks with Oman focused on creating single route in Hormuz

Iran is publicly confirming that negotiations with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz are making progress, while firmly denying direct talks with the United States.

At the same time, regional mediators, including Qatar and Pakistan, remain active behind the scenes, suggesting that diplomatic channels are still open despite military posturing.

On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that talks with Oman are focusing on creating a temporary route for vessels by merging both the Iranian and the Omani routes in the waterway until a permanent agreement can be reached.

Creating a single, albeit temporary, route through the waterway could be the first step towards building trust between Iran and the US.

But Iranian officials maintain that there are no direct negotiations with the US pertaining to the Strait of Hormuz at this time.

Despite this diplomatic momentum, Iran says its military deterrence remains in place. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has announced that it’s ready to retaliate to any threats, as the US Central Command said American forces are fully prepared to protect commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

This is in line with Paragraph 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding it is to read:

The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.

".. in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states .." may at hand as Iran has been in diplomatic engagements with countries in the region.

The only coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz are Iran, Oman and the UAE. The latter appears not taking part in the talks to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf countries worry US war on Iran heading towards stalemate

At least three or four times since the war began at the end of February, the president has issued what sounds to many people as a sort of ultimatum.

But it does appear that once the president says that Iran’s leadership is not acting in good faith, is not acting seriously, is about to bring down “hell and damnation”, as the expression goes, on the Iranian people, interlocutors are still able to communicate between US and Iranian officials and try to find a way to calm tensions.

Now, whether or not this is another one of those situations – really, only time can tell.

But there is concern among parties in the region that this war is possibly heading towards some sort of stalemate, and they would like to see this positively resolved as quickly as possible, if not for their country’s citizens’ sake, then for the sake of the region at large.

Oil prices climb

Oil prices have ticked upward as tensions between the US and Iran dampened hopes for an immediate diplomatic breakthrough.

Brent crude futures gained 62 cents, or 0.7 percent, reaching $84.39 per barrel as of 00:55 GMT, recovering from a 7 percent slide that had dragged benchmark prices to a three-week low.

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude advanced 61 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $80.95 per barrel, following a previous session plunge of more than 5 percent to its lowest point in almost a week.

US Senator Schumer slams Trump’s war over rising gas prices

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has criticized Trump over the war on Iran, accusing him of benefiting campaign donors in the oil industry while everyday citizens face rising energy costs.

“Trump’s illegal war in Iran is a gift to his Big Oil friends who bankrolled his campaign with the promise of raking in profits,” Schumer wrote on X.

“Turns out it’s the one promise he actually delivered on,” he said.

“Meanwhile, Americans are paying over $4 per gallon at the gas pump and suffering from rising energy costs.”

Top Iranian official says Tehran will ‘not tolerate’ US’s naval blockade

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has warned the US over the continued naval blockade against Iranian ports.

“If the blockade continues, American vessels and forces will face serious risks and casualties,” Rezaei wrote on X.

“The U.S. must change its behavior – or we will not tolerate this. We will never permit the opening of a second corridor in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The US renewed its blockade of Iranian ports in July after the memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington in June unravelled over control of the strait.

The US military said it has since redirected at least 44 vessels, disabled two, and boarded two others.

Trump’s approval rating continues to fall

The latest public opinion survey by the Ipsos polling firm and Reuters suggests approval ratings for the US president have fallen to 35 percent.

Reuters said the figure marks a drop from the 37 percent recorded last month and comes amid anger over Trump’s handling of the economy, including rising petrol prices resulting from the war on Iran.

According to the news agency, the poll – conducted online ⁠and nationwide – shows voters picking Democrats over Republicans as better stewards of the economy for the first time in nearly a decade. This could weigh on the party’s chances in the upcoming midterm elections that could determine control of Congress for the next two years.

Trump, however, claims he has the “best” ratings ever.

“My REAL Polling Numbers, not those made up by the Fake News Media, are the best they have ever been,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform earlier.

Iraq hopeful of reaching ‘significant understanding’ with Iran on Hormuz

Iraq’s Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair says talks are under way with Iran on “the smooth flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz”, according to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Khudair expressed hope “of reaching significant understandings in the coming days that will contribute to the protection and ease of passage of shipments and tankers”.

Iran cancelled plans to strike Ukraine after apology, official says

Mohsen Rezaei, the military adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told state television that Iran scrapped an operation to strike three sites in Ukraine after the country’s government offered an “apology” for a July 25 strike on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea.

Rezaei said Iran’s armed forces had completed preparations for the strikes before the operation was called off.

Rezaei also warned that Iran would not allow any maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz outside Iran’s designated route, saying any hostile naval vessel attempting to use an “illegal route” would be hit.

According to Iranian authorities, one crew member was killed in the Ukrainian strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed last week he had been assured by his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, that the attack on the Iranian ship was unintentional and that Kyiv did not seek escalation.

Iran’s president says Tehran does not seek to expand war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says his country will defend its borders but does not seek to expand the war, according to the IRIB state broadcaster.

Speaking at the launch of Phase Two of the Family Medicine and Referral System National Plan, Pezeshkian also said the nation must focus on internal strength and unity.

“In these circumstances, we must strive to build a society where the enemy cannot harbor greed, cannot infiltrate and cannot tear apart and destroy this social community,” he was quoted as saying.

The current state of stalled US-Iran talks

Pakistan has urgently invited top Iranian negotiators to Islamabad in what appears to be a renewed push to restart the stalled Iran-US talks.

Pakistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Ishaq Dar late on Monday invited Iran FM Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad over a phone meeting. Dar requested Araghchi’s presence at his “earliest convenience.”

Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has similarly invited Tehran’s chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf to the country this week, a government source told Anadolu.

It’s unclear what the response of the Iranians is, or when a meeting might take place.

Iran has repeatedly said it is not in direct negotiations with the US, although Trump claims talks are happening.

But Pakistani and Qatari negotiators are currently working to secure a meeting date and venue with both sides, sources told Anadolu.

Islamabad was key to securing a fragile ceasefire between the two sides in April, as well as as the failed MoU signed in June.

How Trump’s backtracking has weakened US leverage

President Trump probably wants some sort of a deal with Iran as early as “this week”, Paul Musgrave, a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, said.

But a key issue – outside the Strait of Hormuz or a nuclear deal – remains whether the US might be able to off-ramp while also saving face, and whether the two sides can reach an agreement that’s acceptable to Trump himself.

“The Iranian president has an American president basically in its grasp, and President Trump wants to wiggle out, but he’s not going to be able to do that easily,” he said.

“It makes him look like a loser.”

Trump is facing mid-term elections, high gasoline prices, and the fact that the war on Iran is highly unpopular. There’s hardly any way to turn around the narrative before the November elections, Musgrave noted.

And while the Iranians are also hurting on the economic front, they know making it hurt for the US will mean they get a better deal, he added.

Ultimately, the US’s bargaining power is the threat of escalation and Iran’s access to global capital and markets, but Trump’s repeated backtracking on his threats has weakened that leverage, he concluded.

Goldman sees Brent at $80-$90 until Iran deal clarity or significant escalation

Goldman Sachs says it expects Brent crude to remain in an $80 to $90 per barrel range until there is either confirmation of a new US-Iran deal or a significant escalation in attacks.

The bank also assumes a fair value of Brent spot prices at about $80, suggesting the market prices only a moderate risk premium.

International benchmark Brent crude was about $84.90 per barrel as of 07:55 GMT.

Vessel struck in Strait of Hormuz

A vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Liberia-flagged dry bulk ship, Minoan Pioneer was struck while sailing close to Oman’s coast, Reuters news agency is reporting.

At least one seafarer is missing after the crew abandoned the vessel, maritime security sources told Reuters.

British risk management group Vanguard separately said a projectile reportedly struck the vessel’s engine room and that a fire broke out in the accommodation area.

Qatar says efforts under way to find diplomatic solution

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari says efforts are ongoing to seek a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran conflict, and that mediators including Qatar, Pakistan and Oman are coordinating closely to facilitate negotiations and exchange drafts between both sides.

Qatar calls for return to normalcy in Hormuz Strait amid ongoing diplomatic efforts

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari says “the state of Qatar has a clear position” and that is “to go back to the normal situation in the Strait of Hormuz”.

In a news conference moments ago, al-Ansari said there is currently no clear timeline for when an agreement could be reached but the Foreign Ministry hopes to reach an agreement “as soon as possible”.

He also commended Pakistan’s and Oman’s mediation efforts and said Oman has “been taking a very important and significant role in the past couple of weeks”.

US’s Bessent says deal with Iran on Hormuz Strait may happen ‘today or tomorrow’

The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says there could be a deal reached with Iran on the reopening of the Hormuz Strait within two days.

“We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalised position in this conflict,” Bessent said in an interview with CNBC.

Asked if Tehran would be allowed to charge a toll, Bessent said the deal would allow freedom of movement in the strait.

“It would be freedom of movement,” he said. “Even though things are still a little dicey there over the past few days, we saw quite a few ships coming out even now.”

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says the current goal is a resumption of talks

Al-Ansari says mediators’ “focus right now is on avoiding escalation, reopening the strait and reopening the door for diplomacy between the parties. What we do not want to see right now is a major escalation in our region.”

“We are working very closely with our partners in the region and with the parties of the conflict to reach a diplomatic resolution,” he told reporters during a news conference.

US’s Bessent expects energy prices to settle back down after Hormuz deal

Treasury Secretary Bessent has given upbeat messages on the impact a possible deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz would have on energy prices, saying hundreds of ships are waiting to go out.

“Even though things are still a little dicey there over the past few days, we’ve seen quite a few ships coming out even now,” Bessent said in an interview with CNBC.

“So, you know, I’d expect the energy prices to settle back down, which, as I said, will be good for the entire world.”

Qatari and Russian FMs discuss latest regional developments

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has held a phone call with Sergey Lavrov, according to a statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

“They reviewed the relations of cooperation between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them,” the statement said.

They also discussed “the latest regional developments, particularly the diplomatic efforts undertaken and the joint coordination to reduce escalation and promote security and stability in the region”.

The Qatari top diplomat expressed the necessity for all parties “to adhere to dialogue and diplomacy, and to implement” the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

“His Excellency renewed the State of Qatar’s full support for all efforts aimed at defusing tensions and reaching a comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace in the region,” the ministry added.

Qatar hopeful agreement between US, Iran will be reached in coming hours, days

In his weekly news conference, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Qatar continues to call for de-escalation and dialogue.

He added that Qatar is in particular supporting Oman’s mediation efforts and is hopeful that an agreement will be reached in the coming hours or days.

Al-Ansari confirmed that no direct talks are happening but that mediators are speaking to each other, adding that drafts of agreements are being passed around just as they have been since this conflict began in February.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he said Qatar’s position was that the strait had to reopen and had to operate in the same way that it has always operated. Basically, that there has to be freedom of navigation in the strait, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies usually pass through. At the moment, only a couple of vessels a day are getting through.

The Iranians have said they want some kind of toll to be paid for vessels to pass through the strait, something the Americans have said they would not accept.

Al-Ansari said Qatar believes this issue should be decided by the region.

‘Trump trapped in a war he started’

Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, says that Iran put up a “feirce fight” against the US, quickly dispelling US President Trump’s belief that his war would be an “easy win”.

Iran’s “strategic position over the Strait of Hormuz has given it significant leverage to raise the costs for the United States and its allies”, she said.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that this war is not winnable on Trump’s terms, and polls show that a majority of Americans now want it to end”, Mortazavi continued. “Yet Trump finds himself politically unable to walk away without claiming victory. The longer the war continues, the higher the costs become, but ending it without something he can present as a win would be an admission of failure.”

‘Trump trapped in a war he started’

Trump didn't start the war on Iran. He joined the war that was started by in June 2025, and resumed on February 28th both by Netanyahu. He joined the war because Netanyahu had promised that the war on Iran would bring the Iranian regime to a collapse. The latter is the root of Trump's initial motive to bring regime change in Iran, which has swiftly adopted by what we call "Pahlavi Iranians."

When Trump declared war on Iran on February 28th, this doesn't mean that he started the war. Because, he issued the declaration while Netanyahu was bombing the building where the Iranian Supreme Leader, making the assassination an spillover to Lebanon because he knew that Hezbollah would respond.

Rubio says progress on Hormuz, but no final deal yet

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US has made progress in talks with Iran aimed at getting more ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but no final deal has been reached.

“There’s ⁠been progress made in those talks, ⁠but not ⁠finality yet. We’re ⁠hoping that will happen very shortly,” Rubio ‌told reporters at the State Department.

Iran, Oman continue to have disagreements over Strait of Hormuz mechanism

The Iranians are currently saying that they aren’t engaged in direct negotiations with the US, but that doesn’t mean that diplomacy is not at work.

Over the past couple of days, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held phone conversations with his regional counterparts and Pakistani officials who are mediating the talks between the US and Iran.

But we know that many points of contention remain.

Iran confirms that it is engaged in talks with Oman focused on one single issue: the mechanism to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

Again, there are points of disagreement on this issue. First, when it comes to reopening the strait, Iran is saying that it doesn’t agree with the so-called proposals to have several corridors: one in the north and the other in the southern areas…

It’s worth bearing in mind that Iran has repeatedly said that the situation at the strait won’t go back to what it was before the war began. Mine clearance operations and imposing maritime service fees are also points of contention.

Oil prices plunge on US-Iran deal hopes

Oil prices have tumbled after a top US official said Washington could soon reach a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over crude supply disruptions that have sent prices soaring in recent months.

The main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, dropped 5 percent to $76.32 a barrel, while the international benchmark Brent North Sea crude fell back below $80 a barrel.

US wants ‘denuclearisation of Iran’ in ‘ultimate deal’, says Rubio 

US secretary of state on the status of negotiations with Iran:

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Marco Rubio reiterated the US position that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that vessels are continuing to pass through it. However, he said Washington is working on an agreement that would allow more ships to transit the waterway safely.

“I think there is a conversation and a negotiation that we are involved in between Iran and Oman on how more ships can be able to go through there safely in the short term, as we move towards … longer-term talks about [Iran’s] denuclearization,” said Rubio.

He added that the “denuclearisation of Iran” is the “ultimate deal”.

Iran unlikely to budge on imposing fees as part of new Hormuz mechanism

Iran is likely to stick to its demand of imposing fees as part of a mechanism to control shipping through the Strait of Hormuz because of the amount of pressure Trump is facing at home, according to Foad Izadi, professor of world studies at University of Tehran.

Trump is under a lot of economic pressure as petrol prices remain much higher than they were before the war began, Izadi siad.

Furthermore, a lot of Congress members, including some Republicans, and the majority of Americans oppose the war, said the professor.

“So, the Iranian side sees this data and realizes that they have some leverage on Trump and see themselves as victims of an illegal war that has cost Iran a lot,” he said.

As a result, Iranian officials are likely to “conclude that this is the best time to establish a mechanism to get paid for some of the damages, because of the pressure that Trump is facing, so I don’t think the Iranians will give up that option that easily,” said Izadi.

If Trump’s party loses the midterms, this could affect the budget approved by Congress, which would impact how much money Trump receives to continue this war, Izadi concluded.

Traffic in Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz remains low

Shipping traffic through the crucial chokepoints of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb “held largely unchanged” at the start of the week amid uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations, Reuters reports.

Citing data from Kpler, a maritime traffic monitor, the agency said 20 ships, including 12 tankers and eight bulk carriers, traveled through the Bab al-Mandeb strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden on Monday, holding flat compared with Sunday.

The Iran-aligned Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20, launching attacks on several Saudi tankers and oil facilities, and opening a new front in the war. Crossings in Bab al-Mandeb averaged about 41 vessels a day in the week before the Houthis’ declaration.

Traffic remained largely slow in the Strait of Hormuz, with six vessels – three tankers and three bulk carriers – transiting the strait on Monday, down from seven the previous day, according to Reuters.

Prior to the war, about 130 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily.

Iran’s foreign ministry says talks with Oman on Hormuz proceeding ‘positively’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said Iran and Oman are continuing talks aimed at ensuring the safe flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with discussions focused on designating safe inbound and outbound lanes.

In comments carried by Iran’s IRIB broadcaster, Baghaei said the talks have “been assessed positively at the both the technical and political levels” as Iran works to develop the needed “mechanisms” to manage traffic in the strait.

Iran says good progress made in talks with Oman, possible deal by tomorrow

Based on rhetoric from Iranian diplomatic sources and officials, it seems that the two sides are actually trying to reach a deal. The other day, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested that good progress had been made in the talks with Oman.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the same thing, despite the remaining points of contention.

Diplomatic sources in Tehran say that a deal is within reach, even though they are criticizing the role of some disrupting actors, adding that it is possible a deal will be reached by the end of tomorrow.

It appears that the deal is not critically important per se, but rather the trade mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz.

If an Oman-Iran deal is reached, this could pave the way for further diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran, despite the longer list of points of contention.

This includes not only the strait, but also de-mining operations, the US naval blockade, sanctions removal, returning the country’s frozen assets, the nuclear dossier and security assurances that Iran has been looking for to make sure that this will not just become a vicious cycle of war, peace, followed by another round of confrontation.

Iran says that all these matters need to be resolved using diplomatic means or a renewed round of confrontation.

Has Pakistan reached limits of mediation between US, Iran?

Pakistan has invited top Iranian officials for talks as mediation efforts to end the war with the United States are reinvigorated.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement late on Monday said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and invited him “to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience”.

Separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to government sources.

It remains unclear if and when the two Iranian officials would travel to Islamabad.

Emir of Qatar discusses Iran developments with Trump

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on recent regional developments, including efforts to “deescalate” US-Iran tensions and “bridge the gap” in their positions, according to a statement by the Emir’s office.

During the call, Trump commended Qatar’s role in “supporting diplomatic efforts and facilitating dialogue”, while Sheikh Tamim stresses the need to press forward with dialogue and for all parties to adhere to the US-Iran MoU agreed in mid-June, according to the statement.

US role in Hormuz talks remains unclear

There has been no clarification on how exactly the US is involved in talks [with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz].

About 24 hours ago, US President Trump was talking in the Oval Office about how talks were under way with the Iranians. He seemed to suggest [the talks were] direct. That doesn’t seem to be the case. But certainly, the US is involved on the fringes and is certainly talking to the Omanis, if not directly to the Iranians.

Both US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are expressing a degree of optimism about where those talks are headed.

The intention is that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. Bessent says there will be no fees, which is a red line for the US, and then they can move on to other issues, such as what Trump calls “the denuclearization of Iran”.

So, the talks are ongoing, with the US involved. But quite how deep that involvement goes is not being made entirely clear by the administration.

Oman-Iran deal could help encourage US, Iran to revive MoU

The US and Iran’s statements and actions over the past few weeks have put the region through a tumultuous time, says Abas Aslani, senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies.

“I think the region feels like a high-speed roller coaster as a couple of days ago, everybody was bracing for a massive escalation,” Aslani said.

“Right now, those observing and those watching it closely are whispering about an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz,” said the analyst, adding that there appears to be a disconnect as just a few days ago the US and Iran “were trading threats”.

While Iran and the US are now both “reporting progress … we are not there yet”, said Aslani, adding that Tehran is sending a message to the US, saying that an Oman-Iran deal on the Strait of Hormuz can be reached and finalised provided that Washington does not intervene.

While this deal would be “a good start … it will not magically solve all the issues”, rather it will allow Iran and the US to focus on reviving the memorandum of understanding by effectively implementing it and then move toward “a final agreement on the nuclear issue”, Aslani said.

Oil companies still raking in profits amid Hormuz disruption

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy flows, causing oil prices to spiral for months and impacting energy markets worldwide.

Thousands of miles away from the Gulf, household prices have soared in the US and Europe, as the so-called Big Oil companies bag astonishing profits from the fallout of the war on Iran.

Companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP have climbed the ladder amid chaos, netting billions in profits as the war drags on with no end in sight, and with hostilities widening into the Red Sea.

Difficult for US to make deal with seemingly divided Iranian government

It’s difficult to say in which areas the US might be willing to compromise on a deal as it’s unclear who in Iran is really running the show, says David des Roches, a former Pentagon director of Arabian Peninsula Affairs.

This is because “there’s a little incoherency on the side of the Iranian government”, des Roches said.

“We’re not quite sure who’s in charge. So, President Trump and his subordinates may make a deal and then we might see an attack on neutral civilian shipping from hardliners in the Iranian regime, like we saw a few weeks ago.”

However, “I think that the rough outlines of a deal are that Iran would deny free international passage in areas of its territorial waters, negating the ancient right of innocent passage, but not interfere with innocent passage through Oman’s sovereign waters,” des Roches said.

“I think that’s probably about the best that can be reached at this point in time” when it comes to a deal between the long-standing foes, concluded des Roches.

US military says it has redirected total of 45 vessels to enforce ‘blockade against Iran’

US Central Command says US forces redirected a total of 45 commercial vessels as part of their “blockade against Iran” since reimposing the measure in mid-July.

That is one more vessel than the total of 44 announced by CENTCOM yesterday.

CENTCOM has repeatedly claimed the Strait of Hormuz is open for commercial transit, as US officials say they are working on a deal with Iran to get more ships through the waterway safely.

US military says southern Hormuz route remains open

US Central Command says the southern passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping and that its forces have helped more than 1,000 vessels transit the waterway over the past three months.

Iran boosts missile, drone production during ceasefire with US

Iran’s military authorities say they are prepared to resume war with the United States if negotiations again fall through, emphasizing that they have adapted and recovered.

Washington has signaled that an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz may be imminent, and US President Donald Trump renewed his demand for a deal, or “total surrender” this week.

But the Islamic Republic has said while talks are ongoing with Oman and other mediators to end the US-Israel war on Iran, work on boosting military strength has only intensified.

“We have made maximum use of the opportunity of the memorandum of understanding and every moment of the ceasefire,” army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told state television this week, referring to a now-suspended MoU signed with the US in June.

Signs of progress in talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had previously indicated that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached as early as Tuesday.

So far, there has been no announcement. But there is an overall sense that progress is being made in the talks, at least to clarify how ships can move in and out of the strait, how much control Iran or Oman could have, whether there could be any tolls, and whether other countries could help de-mine parts of the waterway to facilitate commercial transit.

The posture is essentially that no news is good news, given that several officials indicated earlier on Tuesday that talks were continuing and that they liked what they were seeing from the discussions.

The Trump administration does not want Iran to charge transit tolls, arguing that the strait is an international waterway open to all vessels, regardless of where they are flagged or registered.

Iran argues that it has the right to impose some form of fee. Reports suggest financial support could instead be provided for environmental remediation, shipping-lane maintenance or de-mining a central passageway.

But Washington does not want Iran directly charging commercial vessels to transit the strait.

Iran reports positive signs in Hormuz talks with Oman

According to diplomatic sources in Tehran, there are positive indications coming from Iran. But we have to keep in mind that we are dealing with a fragile and brittle situation.

Different parties are saying that Iran and Oman are on the verge of reaching a deal, but at some point, there was another round of confrontation.

But what comes from Tehran, from the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the foreign minister himself, is indicative of positive progress.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke to state TV and said the same. He said talks are under way and that they are trying to determine a safe trajectory and entry and exit lanes for ships and vessels to reopen the strait.

He also said these trajectories should fulfill the sovereign rights and security concerns of the Iranian and Omani sides, and that the process of diplomatic engagement, both technically and politically, is currently assessed positively.

But still, there are reservations. Diplomatic sources are also talking about disruptive actors. At the same time, there are again some positive indications, with talk of the possibility of a deal being reached by the end of Wednesday.

Oil spill from grounded tanker off Oman expands dramatically

An oil spill from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi off Oman has expanded to about 150sq km (57.9sq miles), according to Greenpeace Germany and satellite images reviewed by AP.

Oil has reached parts of Qabliyah Island, which lies within a protected marine area home to endangered seabirds and the Arabian Sea humpback whale.

The tanker, estimated to have carried more than 800,000 barrels of crude, has been stranded since June. It is sanctioned by the UK, EU, Canada and Switzerland over alleged links to Russian oil exports.

Environmental experts warned that the vessel may be sinking deeper, with no visible signs of a major response operation.