Iran says Hormuz agreement with Oman nearing final draft

Iran said on Wednesday that talks with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz had reached what Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the final stage, and NDTV reported Baghaei saying a joint statement would be issued if certain parties did not obstruct the process, apparently referring to the US. US President Donald Trump said an announcement could come within days, telling reporters progress had been substantial. Two regional officials briefed on the talks told the AP that Iranian and Omani negotiators had completed their text and were awaiting sign-off from Iran's Supreme Leader. The officials described the emerging arrangement as a stopgap tied to a US-Iran agreement reached in June that later collapsed, under which ships would enter the Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and leave via a route Oman controls, with service fees charged for security and environmental upkeep, a fee structure the US has said it opposes.