US Signals Imminent Strait of Hormuz Deal, Iran Denies Direct Talks
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says an agreement to reopen the strategic waterway could be reached within hours, while Tehran's foreign ministry denies negotiations are underway.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Tuesday that Washington and Tehran could reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as early as today or Wednesday. In an interview with CNBC, Bessent said, “We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we could reach an agreement today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normal situation in this conflict.” The Saudi-owned Al-Hadath channel, citing an unnamed source, separately reported that an announcement on full reopening arrangements could be made within hours or by the following day.
Iran’s foreign ministry, however, denied that any current negotiations are taking place with the United States, according to Sky News Arabia. The Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour, reported that Oman is advancing a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under which Iran would retain dominant control over shipping passage, despite pressure from the US, Europe, and Saudi Arabia. The report, cited by Iran’s Hamshahri Online, suggested that such an initiative would preserve Tehran’s strategic position while allowing maritime traffic to resume.
Bessent linked the potential deal to a de-escalation of tensions following what he described as a major military threat from President Donald Trump, which he said had paved the way for direct talks. He noted that hundreds, possibly thousands, of vessels are waiting to transit the strait, carrying not only energy but also fertilisers, refined petroleum products, and industrial gases. The Treasury Secretary forecast that an agreement would stabilise and lower energy prices, adding that US crude futures had already dropped roughly 4% following his remarks. An unidentified projectile struck a cargo ship in the strait on Tuesday, underscoring the volatility of the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central flashpoint in US-Iranian tensions. Trump said earlier this week that the US had been on the verge of launching one of its largest military operations since the Second World War but halted it after Tehran requested a resumption of talks and following consultations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. No Iranian official has yet commented on the reported progress, and the contradictory signals leave the status of any prospective arrangement uncertain.
| Atlantic / Anglosphere press | +0.40 | aligned |
|---|---|---|
| Iranian & allied press | +0.20 | neutral |
| Arab Levant-Maghreb press | 0.00 | neutral |
The US Treasury Secretary claims that Trump's threat initiated the talks and that a deal is imminent; the narrative emphasizes US leverage and frames the reopening as a coerced concession.
By referencing the specific military threat ('one of the largest since WWII') and presenting the outcome as direct cause-and-effect, the US account builds credibility through a hierarchy of threats that leaves little room for alternative explanations.
The US account omits Iranian agency, the role of Omani mediation, and any concessions that Washington might have made; these elements are present in other blocs' reporting.
Iran presents the reopening as its own successful initiative, with Tehran retaining control and dictating terms; external sources are cited to validate this narrative.
The Iranian frame gains plausibility by relying on foreign media (Guardian, Al-Hadath) that describe Iran's dominant role, thereby using delegated authority to support a narrative of self-determination and strategic success.
The Iranian account omits the coercive context of Trump's military threat that preceded the talks, as well as any US pressure; these are highlighted in the Atlantic bloc.
Arab Levant-Maghreb press reports the US statement on a potential deal without taking sides, focusing on technical details such as freedom of navigation and the rejection of Iranian tolls. The coverage is factual and detached, presenting the US position while omitting the Iranian perspective and the role of Omani mediation.
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