Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that a possible U.S.-Iran deal to open the Strait of Hormuz might be within reach. His comments came as the United States reaffirmed that the southern route through the strait remains free and open for all commercial vessels, despite what Washington described as "unwarranted Iranian aggression."
Bessent's remarks suggest a potential diplomatic opening even as Tehran has publicly called for "full-scale war." Behind the scenes, however, a peace proposal could pave the way to reopen the strategic waterway, according to reports. The strait is a critical passage for global oil shipments, and any disruption would have wide economic consequences.
The United States did not provide details on the possible deal or the nature of the Iranian aggression, but the conflicting signals between public rhetoric and reported back-channel efforts underscore the fragility of the situation.