Intermediaries: progress in talks for a temporary deal on the strait; waiting for Mojtaba

Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya channel reported on Tuesday that talks to regulate the opening of the Strait of Hormuz are “advancing at full speed,” and that “significant progress” has been achieved. According to a senior source, an official announcement of the new arrangements is expected within a few hours or tomorrow. At the same time, News 13 learned that intermediaries informed the United States of progress in talks to reach a temporary agreement with Iran. However, a source in those same countries stated that Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not yet approved the agreement. According to the source, these are critical hours for the negotiations—“the last opportunity for Iran.”

Earlier in the morning, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a cargo ship was hit by an unidentified missile in the Strait of Hormuz, about 37 kilometers northeast of Al Hasab, Oman. Meanwhile, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the tensions with the United States this morning, stating that “Iran is defending its borders, but it is not seeking to expand the war,” according to reports in state media.

Last night, U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Iran’s leadership and described it as “incredibly hypocritical.” He said:

“The talks have not been canceled; they are taking place even now—and this is Iran’s last opportunity to sign an agreement. We were supposed to attack last night, but they found out about it from leaks. I want to give them every opportunity before we strike. I hope they get their act together. We will know today or tomorrow where this is going.”

Referring to Tehran, Trump said: “Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are in fact talking about a solution to a problem they created over decades.” Trump emphasized that “nothing will happen for Iran unless we want it to, and this will not happen until an agreement is reached—or until there is a complete surrender on their part.”

At the same time, a senior Iranian source told Saudi Al Hadath that Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit Pakistan. Simultaneously, it was reported that “cautious optimism” was recorded regarding a breakthrough in negotiations with the United States regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz: “The intermediaries need additional time in order to announce a ceasefire.”

Earlier yesterday, Trump said that “what we are doing now is talking with Iran.” The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs contradicted the remarks: “There are currently no direct talks with the United States, only with Oman regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.” Trump also referred to requests by Gulf states not to carry out the strike, saying: “I was asked by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran. We were supposed to go out, but when our allies ask to cancel it, you have to say, ‘Let’s see.’”

He added: “They said there is a deal in an immediate timeframe regarding Hormuz. There is a group of people who want us to just go and finish with it, and there are others who do not want me to do it.” When asked whether there is a deadline for the deal, he answered: “Just see what happens; we are ready to get going at any moment. Do I prefer a deal? I don’t want to kill people.”

In addition, Trump referred to his conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: “I asked the Saudi crown prince, what do you prefer? He said he prefers a deal because you don’t know what the strikes will lead to; they could be overwhelmed by refugees who will come to their country, and disasters—many bad things can happen.”