President Donald Trump has paused planned military action against Iran to give negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program more time, while warning that the pause depends on reaching a deal quickly.
The move comes as Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said negotiations with Oman over a temporary route for the Strait of Hormuz are very close to a conclusion. Iran has also sought to bar U.S. ships from the strait, while the United States insists on free transit and broadly calls for a return to prewar conditions.
In a separate development, Tehran appointed Mohsen Rezaee — a hard-liner who previously advocated advancing Iran's nuclear program — as the new head of the Supreme National Security Council.
Trump has made sweeping new demands on Iran as hopes for a deal dim. Tehran, for its part, has asked for compensation for the U.S. and Israeli war launched on Feb. 28.
Pakistan said a deal is close even as Iran and the United States harden their positions. It remains unclear how any agreement between Tehran and Oman would affect the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said that violations occur in every memorandum of understanding, and that a team should have been formed to address violations rather than to fight.
According to Bloomberg, Israel remains cautious, Gulf states are increasingly pursuing their own security strategies, and any agreement on shipping through Hormuz could reshape the regional balance of power. Broader conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon continue.