Overview
- President Donald Trump said on Monday he paused planned large-scale strikes to give diplomacy a 'last chance' and that talks were underway to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's foreign ministry denied direct negotiations with Washington and said its contacts are with Oman to secure a temporary corridor for commercial shipping.
- UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a commercial cargo ship was hit by a projectile near Al Khasab, Oman, while U.S. Central Command says it is continuing a maritime blockade and has redirected and interdicted multiple vessels.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other sources said a short-term reopening agreement could be reached in hours or days but that any pact still needs sign-off from Iran's highest leaders and security bodies.
- The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of traded oil and gas, so any interim deal would ease fuel-price pressure and shipping disruption, yet the patchwork of Gulf mediators and continued naval incidents leave the outcome fragile and subject to rapid change.