Iran commits to a deal behind Donald Trump
Donald Trump was facing humiliation on Wednesday night after Iran secured a deal with Oman to police the Strait of Hormuz.
After five months of regional conflict, the prospective deal paves the way for Iran to deny access to Western ships along the key route.
While the proposal excludes tolls or service fees being levied against shipping, such a prospect remains a major fear for oil producers.
The arrangement leaves Donald Trump facing a political backlash at home and abroad as the US finds itself in a weaker position than before the conflict began.
Back in February, the Strait was open to all shipping, with 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passing between its banks.
Since then, traffic has ground to a halt as insurers withdrew cover for super-tankers and cargo vessels due to the threat of Iranian attacks.
The long-term framework being finalised last night would give Iran control of inbound shipping while outbound traffic would be jointly managed by Iran and Oman.
Mr Trump is expected to lose support at home over the Gulf crisis while US allies in the region are alarmed over Iran’s expanding influence over shipping routes.
On Wednesday night, Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed: ‘The geographical coordinates of the route envisaged by the two sides have been agreed upon and, if certain third parties do not obstruct the process, the joint statement of the two countries… is also in the final review and drafting stage.’
He added that the talks were focused on ‘establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes’ that ‘uphold sovereign rights while addressing the national security considerations of both Iran and Oman’.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested the Hormuz negotiations are separate from wider diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme.
He said: ‘The immediate deal and the one you’ve seen a lot of focus on is the Straits. There’s the big deal, which is the one that has to do with their nuclear ambitions.’
The Iran-Oman deal came after Mr Trump pulled back from launching the US’s biggest offensive of the conflict at the behest of Saudi Arabia, while Qatar continues to mediate with Iran on behalf of the US.
The deal also leaves Israel sidelined after the country’s air force was expecting to take part in air strikes cancelled by Mr Trump.
Last night a senior Jerusalem official said Mr Trump had ‘left Israel in the fog’.
If the Iran-Oman agreement is finalised, Iran and the US are expected to resume peace talks to end the conflict based on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding agreed in June.
Credit: Mark Nicol, MSN News