The proposed arrangement suggests that vessels would enter the Persian Gulf via a route controlled by Iran and exit through Oman’s route, according to two regional officials who spoke with The Associated Press.
However, any agreement seems to hinge on the United States lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. The Trump administration has previously dismissed any deal that would grant Iran control over the strait.
In other news, a mass funeral took place in Gaza City for over 100 Palestinians who lost their lives in an Israeli strike early in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
A memorial service was also held in Beirut for victims of a 2020 port explosion, while Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for firing at a Saudi Arabian airport.
Here’s a summary of the most significant developments in the Middle East on Tuesday:
US officials indicate strait deal may be near
Key US officials expressed optimism on Tuesday, indicating that a deal to reopen the strait could be imminent.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that negotiations between Iran and Oman have seen progress, “but not finality yet.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned on CNBC that “there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”
Also Read: Oman proposed a regional mechanism for Hormuz to Iran: Report
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway at the Persian Gulf’s entrance that used to facilitate a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas before the war commenced. It has been largely closed due to Iran’s attacks on shipping since the conflict erupted in February.
Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, also communicated with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday as the Arab nation seeks to mediate a resolution to the war.
According to Al Thani’s office, they discussed potential strategies to bridge the gap “in a way that enhances the prospects for a sustainable diplomatic resolution to the crisis.”
Vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea
A cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” while navigating the Strait of Hormuz, as stated by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre.
The center noted that the incident occurred around 2 a.m. local time, approximately 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of Al Khasab, an Omani port city.
It remains unclear what flag the ship was flying or if it was carrying any cargo, but the British maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the vessel sustained damage.
Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, an Indian-flagged commercial vessel sank off Yemen after being struck by an explosive-laden boat, as reported by Yemeni and Indian officials.
The Yemeni coast guard successfully rescued the crew, which included 13 Indians and one Yemeni.
India’s Foreign Ministry condemned the assault, although responsibility for the attack has not been claimed. Iran-aligned Houthi militants have frequently targeted ships navigating the Red Sea near Yemen.
Gaza residents who died in 2023 airstrike laid to rest
Hundreds of people gathered on Tuesday as bodies draped in Palestinian flags were placed in rows beside collapsed buildings in Gaza City.
The 112 victims were then transported on stretchers through a narrow street, heading for burial in a nearby cemetery. They were part of the more than 300 casualties from an attack on November 22, 2023, in the Sabra neighborhood of the city.
First responders retrieved the bodies, including 40 children and 30 women, according to the Civil Defence organization, which operates under Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry.
Also Read: Iran proposes allowing ships to exit Oman side of Hormuz without being attacked
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has since led to the deaths of 73,375 individuals, encompassing both civilians and combatants, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
About 7,400 people are still unaccounted for and are presumed to be buried under rubble from the war, as reported by Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department.
Israel considers withdrawal from Lebanon
Israeli and Lebanese officials convened in Rome on Tuesday to further discuss a US-brokered agreement aimed at reducing the Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon and disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
A diplomat familiar with the discussions indicated that Lebanon requested the next “pilot zone” — where Israeli troops would withdraw and the Lebanese army would assume control — to be either in Khiam or Bint Jbeil. Both locations have experienced heavy fighting during the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict and are currently held by Israeli forces.
However, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa suggested prior to the three-day talks that no new pilot zones would be immediately established, warning that “moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is intended to protect.”
Implementation of the June 26 agreement commenced last month with an initial pilot zone in an area previously untouched by Israeli forces, which had seen Israeli fire.
Yemen’s Houthis target airport in Saudi Arabia
In Yemen, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, announced that a drone struck a “sensitive target” at the airport in Najran, without providing any evidence.
This attack was claimed to be a response to what he called a Saudi violation of Yemen’s airspace over the provinces of Saada and Hajjah. No immediate response was received from Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis recently imposed a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping traversing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait leading to the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia led an international coalition and established an air and sea blockade against the rebels after they seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen during a civil war that began in 2014. Major hostilities subsided under a truce in 2022.
Memorial honors Beirut port explosion anniversary
Relatives of the more than 200 individuals who perished in the massive explosion at the Beirut port in 2020 gathered at the site to commemorate six years since tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate ignited, severely damaging large sections of the Lebanese capital.
No one has been prosecuted in the lengthy judicial investigation into the incident, yet some families expressed renewed optimism after government officials assured that indictments would be made by year’s end.
The tragedy has been overshadowed by recent events, including two wars between Israel and the Hezbollah militant organization and an Israeli military occupation of much of southern Lebanon.
