The United States expects Iran and Oman to reach an agreement soon that would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported exclusively on Friday, citing a U.S. official.
The official said Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once a deal was announced and Iran allowed commercial vessels to pass through the strategic waterway without obstruction.
"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon," the official said, adding that U.S. actions would be tied to Tehran fulfilling its commitments.
An agreement over the strait, which separates Iran and Oman, is viewed as a key step toward a broader peace settlement in the five-month conflict.
Around one-fifth of global oil consumption passed through the waterway before the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28. Disruptions caused by attacks on vessels and Iran's collection of transit charges have driven energy prices higher and added to inflationary pressure.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said Friday that 15 of its vessels had been struck in the strait since the conflict began. The attacks killed one crew member and injured 20 others.
Regional security concerns also intensified as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a collective defense pact in Mecca. The agreement states that an armed attack against any of the three countries would be treated as an attack against all.
Turkey said the pact was defensive and not directed at a particular country, though it comes amid heightened tensions with Iran.
Separately, Lebanon and Israel agreed on a shortlist of countries that could provide troops to verify Hezbollah's disarmament under a U.S.-brokered arrangement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended negotiations with Washington against domestic criticism, saying most senior military commanders supported talks aimed at stopping the fighting.
U.S. Central Command has not reported strikes against Iran since July 29, though earlier efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire have failed.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/u-expects-strait-hormuz-deal-015550730.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.