Iran-Oman Hormuz Talks in Final Stages, US Claims Deal Imminent; Iran Denies Direct US Talks, Insists on Temporary Oman-Mediated Route Arrangement

August 4, 2026

Sources: Al Jazeera (Iran says negotiations with Oman over Strait of Hormuz in final stages), Times of Israel (Rubio: Progress made in talks to reopen Hormuz), ABC News (Iran live updates), Washington Post (Trump administration claims Hormuz deal is close), CNN (Drafts of potential US-Iran agreement are being circulated, Qatar says), Bloomberg (Iran Says Hormuz Talks Underway After Trump Calls Off Strikes). Quotes attributed to Araghchi, Baghaei, Rubio, Bessent, and Trump confirmed across multiple sources.

Iran's foreign minister announced on Sunday, August 3, that negotiations with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are entering their final stages, as Tehran insists the vital waterway will never return to its pre-war status. Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state media that discussions between Tehran and Muscat are on the way to being finalized, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the two countries were close to reaching an understanding on a new maritime route through Hormuz, separate from existing corridors. Under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, according to two regional officials cited by the Associated Press. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that there has been progress made in discussions over getting more ships through the strait, but no final agreement has been reached yet. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Tuesday that a deal could be reached with Iran today or tomorrow to open the Strait of Hormuz to freedom of movement. We are in talks with the Iranians, Bessent said, echoing President Trump's Monday statement that talks were going on right now. Iran has consistently denied holding direct talks with the United States, stating only that Oman-mediated discussions are making progress. The conflicting public statements reflect the delicate nature of the negotiations and the domestic political pressures on all sides. President Trump announced over the weekend that he had called off planned strikes on Iran, saying that regional allies including Saudi Arabia had urged him to prioritize diplomacy. Trump warned Tehran on Monday that it had a last chance to reach an agreement, saying I want to give them every last chance before decapitation. Qatar's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict are in