Oil fell Wednesday, as investors continue to assess the U.S

Iran and Oman are approaching a deal to secure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz and future administration of the vital economic artery.

Deputy foreign minster says the route's entry as well as part of the exit would run through Iranian territorial waters.

UK backs US efforts for diplomatic solution on Iran British Finance Minister John Healey said on Tuesday that the UK supports US efforts to secure a diplomatic solution on Iran and welcomed steps to increase pressure after the US announced expanded sanctions on Iran on Monday. Healey also called on Iran to cease its de-stabilising activity across the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman on Tuesday discussed a proposal to establish a jointly managed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Irans deputy foreign minister says Hormuz to remain closed despite temporary Oman deal Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in a televised interview on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed despite a temporary transit agreement with Oman

The three states have largely Sunni populations, but while Saudi Arabia has had frosty relations with Iran, Turkey and Pakistan have remained relatively cordial with Tehran. Islamabad has been a key conduit for negotiations between the US and Iran as they engage in a prolonged conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has blockaded in response to the US and Israeli war on the country, which was initially aimed at toppling its government

Omani FM hopes the two countries will 'soon announce' a joint temporary transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump unleashes swathe sanctions on Iran 'enablers' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced a new wave of sanctions against Iran and its "enablers", towards what he described as an "asphyxiation of this regime" amid the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz

Commodity vessel transits through Hormuz Strait drop to three-month low Only one commodity vessel reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, preliminary Kplershipping data showed on Tuesday

And Americans are paying a huge, huge cost," he said in a post on X. In a series of posts, Murphy went onto list a number of reasons for Washington'ssetbacks during its war on Iran, including not achieving initialwar objectives, Tehran's control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the depletion of army resources, including its munition supply

UN offers to facilitate fertiliser transit through Strait of Hormuz UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered on Monday to facilitate the transit of fertiliser through the Strait of Hormuz which has been disrupted as a result of the US-Israel war on Iran

US military says it allowed 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass through Hormuz blockade US Central Command (Centcom) said on Monday that the military has redirected 71 commercial vessels,disabled 3 and boarded 2 to "ensure compliance" with its naval blockade of Iranian ports

An Israeli drone strike targeting displaced Palestinians in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah killed two early on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported citing medical sources.The two killed were identified as Mohammed Nasser Abu Assad and Ibrahim Nasser Abu Assad. Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi is expected to visit Tehran on Tuesday amid ongoing talks between Iran and Muscat over the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign ministry indicated on Monday

Oman foreign minister set to visit Tehran amid ongoing talks over Hormuz Strait Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi is expected to visit Tehran on Tuesday amid ongoing talks between Iran and Muscat over the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign ministry indicated on Monday

Less than 20 ships transit Strait of Hormuz over weekend Fewer than 20 vessels have travelled through the Strait of Hormuz during the weekend, data from Kplershowed

Iranian parliamentary committee approves provision to charge ships in Hormuz Iranian parliament advanced a provision in a draft law on Sunday allowing Tehran to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz

In March, Prime Minister Keir Starmers government had granted permission to the US military to use the Royal Air Force base in Fairford and the joint facility on Diego Garcia, for limited operations against Iranian missile facilities that "directly threatened British personnel", regional allies, or sovereign assets. The authorisation was subsequently expanded, allowing the US to launch strikes against active Iranian missile infrastructure targeting commercial oil shipping channels in the Strait of Hormuz

Tensions between Iran and the United States remained high on Saturday as Tehran responded to Washington's latest economic pressure while continuing diplomatic contacts with neighboring countries over regional security and the Strait of Hormuz.

"It just means that we're seeing what happens," Trump told reporters when asked if US military options with Iran were limited. "We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz, and that means well into it, the land areas

The security situation in Hormuz remains contested but the U.S

Talks between the longtime foes remain on hold, and the war started by the US and Israel in February has been locked in a stalemate. Tehran is keeping the key Strait of Hormuz partially shut and Washington is persisting with a naval counter-blockade ofIran

Iran and Oman discuss resuming talks over Strait of Hormuz The Omani and Iranian foreign ministers discussed in a phone call ways to create suitable conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations, and developments affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's state news agency said on Friday.

Oil prices eased Friday but remained on track for a second straight weekly gain as hopes of a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz faded to near-zero.

US Treasury chief urges China to back proposed Iran sanctions US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to get with the programme over proposed sanctions on Iran, saying Beijing would benefit from the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lower energy prices

"ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences," Trump said. The Trump administrations threats come as it continues to be unable to militarily assert its control over the Strait of Hormuz, with a ceasefire between the two countries all but collapsed

Traffic through Hormuz Strait shows no rise, data suggests Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz did not rise, with a total of ninevessels transiting the strategic waterway on Wednesday - unchanged from the previous day,Kpler data showed.

Oil supertankers in Gulf are renting for $500,000 per day: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 21:10 A fund that allows investors to bet on crude oil freight rates has surged more than 2,000 percent since the start of year In this picture, obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency and taken on 2 May 2026, the Gambia-flagged tanker Bili is anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran (Amirhossein Khorgooei/ISNA/AFP) Off Supertanker owners are getting paid $510,000 per day to bring crude oil from the Gulf to Asia, in a sign of high demand for vessels to transit the waterway as fighting rages in the region and alternative routes take supply from the market

Watch: Qatar says Hormuz Strait deal crucial for US-Iran talks Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told reporters on Monday that an agreement on opening the Strait of Hormuz would make it easier to resume talks between the US and Iran

Irans top security official ridicules Trumps claims over Hormuz Strait Irans secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, has ridiculed US President Donald Trump after he declared the Strait of Hormuz as a US territory

Irans top negotiator says Hormuz Strait will remain closed until US abides by MoU Irans top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US meets the commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding, including lifting its naval blockade

A 60-day negotiation window set under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) expired on August 17 with no deal, leaving the diplomatic process in limbo and rekindling fears over regional stability and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

British maritime agency says the incident caused one casualty and damaged the vessel's engine room.

Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while it was transiting in the Strait of Hormuz

Damage, crew casualty reported onboard vessel hit in Hormuz Strait, UKMTO says The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel wasstruck by an unknown projectile while it wastransiting in theStrait of Hormuz

UKMTO: Vessel struck by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz

A vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a crew member injured, according to the UKMTO.

UAE, Omani leaders discuss regional, global affairs in Abu Dhabi The president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hosted a meeting with Omans Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, in Abu Dhabi to discuss developments in regional and international affairs, according to a post from the Royal Oman Family on X. This comes after US President Donald Trump repeated his threats to bomb Oman, as it finalises a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Centcom says it redirected 64 ships amid Hormuz blockade US Central Command (Centcom) said on Monday that the US Navy has redirected 64 commercial ships during its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since mid-July, two more than in its last announcement on Friday

Turkey, Iran discuss efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz, continue US-Iran ceasefire Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday to discuss efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the continuation of a ceasefire between Iran and the US, according to Reuters, citing a Turkish diplomatic source

Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz sank to a new low as a ceasefire between the U.S

Trump warns US will 'bomb shit out of' Oman if it strays from Washington's line on Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 13:40 The US president was asked by Fox News about parallel talks between Tehran and Muscat over Strait of Hormuz control US President Donald Trump on 14 August 2026 in Garden City, New York (Samuel Corum/Getty Images via AFP) Off US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of Washingtons efforts to reach a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Fox News

The U.S.-Iran deal was supposed to open the Strait of Hormuz while they negotiated a final deal on Tehran's nuclear program within 60 days.

Trump says US could bomb Oman if it gets in the way US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if the Gulf country gets in the way of Washingtons efforts to reach a peace deal with Iran, according to Fox News. Fox reporter Trey Yingst said he asked Trump about parallel talks between Iran and Oman over control of the Strait of Hormuz

Instead, it is the enemy that must anticipate strategic surprises, he added. "Whatever is necessary to defend this land, ensure security, and neutralise enemy threats will be executed at the appropriate time." Javani's comments came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas passes, slowed over the weekend

And now our government is the one actually discussing lowering the nuclear threshold in order to use nuclear weapons against Iran even though Trump claims hes won the war like 40 times and says the U.S. controls the SoH, she added, referring to the Strait of Hormuz

Iran says Hormuz transit route deal reached with Oman Iran on Monday said it has reached an understanding with Oman on a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides now working to finalise details and issue a joint statement

Iran says talks with Oman continue on new Hormuz transit route Iran and Oman are continuing talks to establish a secure maritime transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, blaming security complications caused by US and Israeli military actions

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday Iran and Oman have agreed on the map of the new route for maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he is, "Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement." He said the deal shows how the Middle East is coming together", adding that they will be able to have better solutions to defend themselves. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed down over the weekend following attacks on vessels, according to ship tracking data from Kpler

Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks

Iran and Oman work on temporary Hormuz shipping route as Trump threatens to claim the strait Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran and Muscat were working to establish a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing that the talks were separate from any decision on reopening the strategic waterway

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.

Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Amir Hatami said on Sunday that US forces have been expelled from the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz, and are prohibited from returning.

Iran and Oman defining a temporary route for now, Araghchi says Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi has reiterated that talks with Oman and reopening of Hormuz were two separate issues

Iran, Oman reach agreement on shipping traffic map in Strait of Hormuz

Taiwan has long prepared for a Chinese military invasion but wars in Iran and Ukraine expose new potential threats.

Iran's deputy foreign minister says Hormuz "will remain Iranian" after Trump's claim that the waterway would soon become U.S

UKMTO says bulk carrier struck in Hormuz A bulk carrier has been struck by anunknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz,the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said

Iran called on the US to accept defeat while President Donald Trump blasted Iran as "evil" and said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on UAE tankers in Hormuz Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has strongly condemned an attack on two tankers belonging to the UAEs oil giant ADNOC while transiting the Strait of Hormuz

Control over the strait has been a sticking point in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran.

"It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz," Bessent said.

"The Iranians sometimes make commitments that they don't honour," Vance told Fox News. "They make a deal, they don't honour the deal." He also expressed that he wasconfident the confrontation would end with Washington "in a stronger position," with Tehran left without anuclear weapon and the vital Strait of Hormuz reopened

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain as Iran and the United States continue to hold firm to their positions, with neither side showing signs of backing down.

"Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country," Bessent said during an interview on Newsmax's Rob Schmitt Tonight programme. "It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports," he added.

No injuries were reported in the attack, which the UAE called 'piracy' and a threat to global energy security.

UAE condemns Iranian attack on two vessels in Hormuz strait The United Arab Emirates on Friday condemned an Iranian attack it said targeted two vessels linked to state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz

UAE's Adnoc says two vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz, no injuries Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening, the United Arab Emirates' state news agency WAM reported

Oil futures retreated early Wednesday morning after prices rose overnight.