IRAN and Oman have resumed talks on managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with the two countries discussing a temporary navigational corridor through the strategic waterway as economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran intensifies.
The discussions come as the strait remains largely closed to commercial shipping following the outbreak of the wider conflict in February, despite a reduction in direct hostilities between Iran and the United States.
Iran and Oman said on Tuesday that they had discussed establishing “a joint temporary navigational corridor” through the strait and agreed to clear the waterway of mines.
The Strait of Hormuz handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict disrupted shipping through the route.
Reuters reported US President Donald Trump earlier saying the strait has been cleared of mines and warned Iran against laying new ones, but the security situation remains uncertain.
An oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile on Tuesday and disabled about nine nautical miles (17 kilometres) north-east of Ash Shishah in Oman, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
The incident underscored the continuing risks facing vessels attempting to navigate the waterway.
Diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran have meanwhile stalled, despite active fighting between the two sides having largely subsided.
The United States has also begun returning personnel to some diplomatic missions in the Middle East that were evacuated or reduced to limited operations during the conflict.
Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that the move reflected Washington's assessment that the immediate risk of further escalation with Iran had diminished, although some embassies would initially operate below full capacity.
The developments came as Washington stepped up economic pressure on Tehran.
The United States earlier this week threatened to impose penalties on countries that continue doing business with Iran as part of efforts to weaken the Iranian economy, although Washington said the measures would not be imposed immediately.
Despite the new sanctions threat, oil prices fell for a second consecutive day as traders appeared to discount the immediate impact of the measures.
Iran condemned the US pressure campaign as an act of “gross lawlessness” and expressed confidence that many countries would refuse to join Washington's efforts to isolate its economy.
The conflict has also triggered a separate security concern in the United States after Iranian state television broadcast a three-minute video discussing an alleged plot to assassinate Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, 20.
The US Secret Service said it was aware of the broadcast, which claimed Barron was being monitored and alleged that a $10 million bounty had been offered for his killing.
The development adds another layer of tension between Washington and Tehran as diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked.
Meanwhile, the conflict has taken a heavy human toll, with thousands of people reported killed, most of them in Iran and Lebanon.
The United States and Israel have also severely degraded much of Iran's conventional military capability, while the current condition of the country's nuclear programme remains unclear.
The conflict is also weighing on domestic politics in the United States, with Reuters/Ipsos polling showing public approval of the war falling to its lowest level since the early stages of the conflict and Trump's popularity reaching a record low ahead of congressional elections in November. - August 26, 2026
