Hormuz discussions show some progress

Discussions between Iran and Oman over reopening the Strait of Hormuz are progressing at the technical and political levels, while Qatar said the priority is to contain the escalation in the region as US President Donald Trump continues his threats.

US-based media outlet Axios reported that a deal on Hormuz was near, but Iran reiterated that the talks were between Tehran and Muscat and had nothing to do with Washington. Similarly, Qatar said it does not set specific timelines for an agreement.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state television that the negotiations with Oman are focused on determining safe inbound and outbound transit routes for vessels in the strait, Mehr News reported on Wednesday.

Baghaei said the discussions, which have taken place at both technical and political levels, are proceeding in a constructive atmosphere.

"Iran, in cooperation with Oman, is working to formulate the necessary mechanisms for future arrangements for managing shipping transit in this strategic passage," Baghaei was quoted as saying.

Tehran has said that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to shipping under Iranian control until the United States military interference in the waterway ends.

Trump said a deal to reopen the strait is close when he was asked by reporters traveling with him in California about a report on the Axios news site that an announcement on the Strait of Hormuz could be made on Wednesday.

In an interview with Fox News, published on Wednesday, Trump also renewed his warning to Iran, saying the US could hit the country "really hard" if negotiations between Washington and Tehran fail.

"If they back out again, they're going to get hit really hard," Trump said. "They know that. They understand that. I have no choice. They can't have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple."

In his phone call with Trump, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani emphasized the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts to address contentious issues and implement the terms agreed under the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US in June.

Mediating efforts

A similar view was echoed by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, who chaired the weekly meeting of ministers on Tuesday.

Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari, adviser to the Qatari prime minister and spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday that Doha, Muscat and Islamabad are exerting ongoing efforts to facilitate communication between Iran and the US "to bring their viewpoints closer".

Al-Ansari also said Qatar does not set specific timelines for reaching agreements, explaining that the success of any agreement depends on the extent of readiness of the concerned parties to achieve it.

He also noted that Qatari communications are ongoing at various leadership levels with relevant parties to advance the negotiation track, while stressing that no final agreement has been reached to date.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Al-Ansari called on countries to refrain from using the strait "as a means of political pressure or to achieve unilateral interests".

He indicated that the minimum demand in the current phase is to return to the previous status in the strait, in line with international law and in coordination with all coastal and concerned states.

Al-Ansari said any future arrangements related to managing the strait or regulating navigation through it "must be agreed upon by all affected regional countries". He pointed out that ensuring the smooth flow of trade and freedom of passage represents a shared priority for the international community.

Shipping traffic at the key Middle Eastern maritime choke points of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb remained limited on Tuesday compared with the previous day, Reuters reported, citing ship-tracking data from Kpler.

Roughly 130 to 140 ships would typically transit the waterway each day before the conflict broke out on Feb 28. Iran responded by closing the strait.

Cui Haipei in Dubai, UAE contributed to this story.

jan@chinadailyapac.com