Major foreign media reported that a draft agreement between the United States and Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is being circulated among the countries concerned.
On the 4th (local time), according to Bloomberg News and CNN, Majed Al Ansari, Spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the mediating country, told reporters that efforts to resolve the conflict between the United States and Iran are "at a very advanced stage," adding that "a draft containing the terms of a potential agreement is currently being circulated."
Spokesperson Al Ansari said several countries in the region are cooperating to advance talks between the United States and Iran, explaining that, together with Oman, they are "working closely to facilitate dialogue between the two sides and to exchange ideas and drafts."
However, there are currently no direct negotiations scheduled between the United States and Iran. He also said he hopes that mediation efforts will lead to the resumption of a direct meeting between the two sides.
From the U.S. side, remarks suggesting the possibility of an agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz also followed. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that "while we conduct long-term negotiations on denuclearization, in the short term there are talks and negotiations under way between Oman and Iran on ways to allow more ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz."
Secretary Rubio said the United States is also involved in the talks between Oman and Iran, adding, "There has been progress in the negotiations, but we have not yet reached a conclusion. We hope an agreement will be reached soon."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said in a CNBC interview that "an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz could be reached today or tomorrow."
The mediating countries have focused on finding a compromise between the United States and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, one of the mediators, has reportedly discussed since last week a strait management plan centered on integrating the southern route through Iranian and Omani territorial waters and the northern route through Iranian territorial waters into a single "middle route" for ships to use.
According to the New York Times (NYT), Iran and Oman have narrowed their consultations on passage through the Strait of Hormuz to a concrete level. The two sides are reportedly discussing a plan under which ships would use a route closer to waters controlled by Iran when entering the strait and follow a route closer to waters controlled by Oman when exiting.