US Hopes Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Can Be Sealed Today or Tomorrow
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said an agreement could come within hours, just after another cargo ship was struck in the strategic waterway.
WASHINGTON – The United States hopes a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz can be sealed today or tomorrow, a senior US official said on Tuesday, hours after another cargo ship was hit in the strategic waterway.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told broadcaster CNBC there was a possibility a deal would be reached in the coming hours. His remarks came a day after President Donald Trump said the strait might reopen on Tuesday.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump again paired confidence in diplomacy with a stern warning, describing the situation as Iran's last chance before facing action that would cripple the country.
War since Feb 28
Tehran and Washington have been at war since Feb 28, when the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran. Despite a ceasefire and an initial agreement reached in recent months, diplomatic efforts have failed to end the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz, a main artery for global oil and gas supplies, remains the recurring trigger for renewed fighting. Iran wants to retain control over the strait and charge vessels passing through it — a power it never exercised before the war and one strongly opposed by the US.
Threats made, then withdrawn
In an increasingly familiar pattern, Trump last week threatened to strike Iran ferociously, including possibly targeting civilian infrastructure, before withdrawing the threat on Saturday by saying the parameters of a deal had already been agreed.
On Monday, he said he had agreed to continue negotiations with Iran at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and several other countries. – AFP
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