Iran and Oman Continue Hormuz Strait Agreement Talks as Qatar PM Plans Tehran Visit

Iran and Oman are still negotiating the details of an agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian source cited by Reuters on Wednesday. This contradicts earlier statements by Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi, who claimed an agreement had already been reached on maritime routes. The exact stage of the negotiations remains unclear, though Tehran indicated earlier this month that a deal was near. Alongside Muscat, Qatar is also engaged in talks with Iran. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari announced that Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will visit Tehran on Thursday to meet with Iranian officials. The visit aims to discuss ways to reduce regional tensions and foster an environment conducive to dialogue, including ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the situation to its previous state.

Mohebbi accused the United States of delaying the negotiation process, warning that if Washington does not accept Tehran's conditions, the Strait will remain closed. He emphasized Iran's control over the strait, stating that hostile warships are at least 400 kilometers away and that no vessel can pass without Iran's permission. He called for unity against the enemy despite political disagreements and suggested that if the US stops obstructing and returns to the memorandum of understanding, the strait could reopen. Mohebbi also claimed Iran and Oman had reached an agreement on their respective shares of the waters and revenue from the strait.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated there is no specific timeline for returning to negotiations with Iran and that the confrontation will continue as long as necessary. He asserted that the strait remains open and safe for navigation and predicted a significant victory over Iran soon. Oil prices have fallen over 1.5% for the third consecutive day amid signs of renewed mediation efforts to end the conflict.

Separately, Iran's armed forces declared several Persian-language media outlets operating outside the country, including BBC Persian, Iran International, and Radio Farda, as "military targets," accusing them of working for US and Israeli intelligence. These outlets were previously designated as terrorist organizations by Iran in 2022. Iranian authorities regularly accuse foreign Persian-language media of collaborating with Israel and tightening information control since the conflict with Israel and the US escalated on February 28. In August, Iran also shut down a YouTube channel that aired interviews with Iranian intellectuals and public figures, accusing it of spreading false information. The channel's founder, an Iranian resident, was investigated and released on bail.