Iran Rejects Oman's Proposal for Joint Hormuz Strait Management Amid Rising Regional Tensions

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Tehran has rejected Oman's proposal for regional joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it unlikely to succeed. The official accused the United States and Saudi Arabia of pressuring Oman to advance their "unrealistic plans" regarding the strategic waterway.

Meanwhile, Politico reported that Britain and France are currently unwilling to join the Trump administration's initiative to establish an international naval task force in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raised the idea during talks with his British counterpart, focusing on rallying allies to enhance maritime security. European sources cited frustration with the Trump administration’s failure to consult allies before launching strikes on Iran as a key reason for their hesitation.

In related developments, after several quiet nights in the Gulf, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan. The IRGC also confirmed attacking three oil tankers navigating a prohibited route in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, alongside the Saudi military, Iranian-backed militias in eastern Iraq were targeted in response to over 30 drone attacks against U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure in the past 72 hours.

On the diplomatic front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented new intelligence to U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington regarding developments at Mount Hermon. Israeli officials noted a significant Iranian recovery process aided by foreign countries, with full details to be shared with the U.S. soon. A U.S. source acknowledged awareness of the issue based on internal intelligence.

Before meeting Netanyahu, Trump told Fox News that the U.S. maintains a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting control despite Iranian mine-laying efforts. He emphasized that the U.S. opened and then reinstated the blockade after Iran violated agreements. Trump downplayed the Mount Hermon situation and expressed reluctance to attack Iranian power stations and bridges, citing concerns for Iran’s 90 million citizens. He warned Iran that he could destroy their infrastructure quickly if they fail to sign agreements.