Oman-Iran deal to open Strait takes shape as Saudis seek new defense partners - National & International News -

Oman-Iran deal to open Strait taking shape

The Iranian front has been relatively quiet this week with no new exchanges of fire between Iran and the US. Iran and Oman have been working on a bi-lateral deal to reopen traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which officials say is near completion. Trump has claimed to be in renewed talks with Tehran as well, which Tehran denies.

The US also seems to have been largely sidelined in the talks between Oman and Iran. While the particulars aren’t yet known, the contours of the deal taking shape envision shipping traffic entering the Strait on the Iranian side and exiting on the Omani side, with each government allowed to charge fees as they see fit.

Trump has repeatedly said he would not accept a deal that allowed Iran to exercise any control over the Strait or to charge tolls. The US sought to undercut a temporary agreement of this kind in the previous memorandum of understanding (MOU) by pushing ships to transit on the Omani side. Iran responded by firing on ships traveling through the Omani corridor, which led, in part, to the recent resumption in hostilities.

Now, a US official who spoke to Reuters said that if the current deal between Iran and Oman is finalized, the US will lift its own blockade of Iranian ships. However, there are several other outstanding issues that could lead to further military showdowns between Iran and the US.

Saudis look for new defense partners

Another sign that the US is being sidelined in the Gulf is a new mutual defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Since the beginning of the current Iran war, Saudi Arabia has been taking serious and costly hits from both Iran and the Houthis in neighboring Yemen. As the war stretched on and US defensive interceptors became exhausted, the massive US military presence on Saudi soil proved largely ineffective as a deterrent. If anything, it made Saudi Arabia more of a target. As a result, the Saudis have broadened their search for defense partners.

It was a combination of pleas from the Saudis for de-escalation and revelations about dwindling US munitions that pushed Trump to call off planned further attacks on Iran. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be taken for granted that the current fragile “peace” will hold.

Iranian parliament mulls bill to bar US and Israeli ships from the Strait of Hormuz.

Some in Iran want to keep Trump in war and negotiations until the midterms.