Iran, Oman make progress on deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz: officials

<p> CAIRO: Iran and the Gulf Arab state of Oman have made progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a potential breakthrough that could help wind down the war in the Middle East, regional officials said Tuesday.<br /> Under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Arabian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, two regional officials told The Associated Press.<br /> They said negotiations are still underway and that the final agreement could take a different form. They said any deal would be linked to lifting the US blockade on Iran’s ports.</p> <p> The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations unfolding behind closed doors.<br /> Any agreement formalizing Iran’s control of the strait would mark a significant strategic victory for Tehran. For that reason, the US could seek to block the deal by refusing to lift the blockade.</p> <p> The strait was an open international waterway before the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.<br /> Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the bilateral talks with Oman are focused on “establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes,” routes that “uphold sovereign rights while also addressing the national security considerations of both Iran and Oman.”<br /> “The final results of these negotiations will be announced once concluded,” he added, in remarks carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.<br /> The talks emerged as US President Donald Trump is under mounting pressure to end an unpopular war that has driven up gas prices ahead of midterm elections and drawn down US supplies of some munitions.</p> <p> In recent days, he has again whipsawed between threatening massive strikes and voicing support for diplomatic efforts.</p>