U.S. seeks Iran public pledge to keep Strait of Hormuz open for shipping

President Donald Trump said he would intensify the US’s bombardment against Iran until it stops attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and agrees to open the waterway.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran and Oman’s foreign ministers met on Saturday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz that lies between them, after days of Iranian attacks on ships and U.S. retaliation that dealt a blow to the interim deal to end the war. Iran’s new supreme leader, still unseen since the war began, vowed in his first statement since the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Iranians would avenge his killing in the war’s opening strikes on Feb. 28. Such revenge “is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out,” Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement carried on state television, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened more missile attacks. Oman said it and Iran agreed to keep talking about the crucial waterway “at the technical and political levels,” a day after the United States called on Iran to publicly say the crucial waterway is open and ships won’t be attacked. Iran accuses Washington of violating the interim deal Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he met with his counterpart in Oman to discuss “

The US is demanding that Iran publicly state it will stop attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and that all lanes will be open with no tolls.

Iran has privately told advisers to US President Donald Trump that it made a mistake by targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a CBS News report citing senior US officials. Tehran reportedly described the attacks as the work of an “errant” faction of hardliners that wanted to derail ongoing negotiations with Washington.The officials said Iran has conveyed that it wants to continue talks with the US despite the incident. The private message is being seen as an attempt to keep diplomatic channels open after tensions threatened to overshadow the negotiations.Diplomacy under pressureThe Trump administration, however, is looking for more than private assurances. According to the report, Washington wants Iran to publicly acknowledge that the attacks were a mistake, viewing them as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.Canada-US Gordie Howe Bridge Set To Open After Trump’s Blockade Threat Trump also wants Tehran to issue a signed statement affirming that shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and safe for all vessels, the BBC reports. The demand reflects Washington's push for a clear public commitment to maritime security in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.A test of Iran’s credibilityThe developments suggest that while both sides remain interested in continuing negotiations, the next phase of talks could depend on whether Iran is willing to match its private assurances with a public commitment. For the Trump administration, restoring confidence in the security of the Strait of Hormuz appears to be a key condition for sustaining diplomatic engagement.

The comments came hours after the US demanded that Iran publicly declare all channels of the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping and pledge not to attack civilian vessels transiting the waterway

Bloomberg News Middle East reporter Dan Williams says negotiations between the US and Iran remain focused on securing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, even as President Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric underscores the fragile state of the ceasefire. Williams says Iran's leadership remains opaque, questioned claims that recent attacks on commercial shipping reflected a command failure, and warned that Tehran could emerge with greater strategic leverage if it retains effective control over the vital waterway. (Source: Bloomberg)