US Notes Advances in Strait Discussions, Rubio Eyes Deal Soon

US secretary of state Marco Rubio noted advances in conversations with Iran and Oman aimed at increasing vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz, though no final pact has been secured yet.

“Progress has occurred in the discussions, yet nothing is settled. We expect resolution very shortly,” Rubio told reporters at the State Department.

Key events

43m agoUS Notes Advances in Strait Discussions, Rubio Eyes Deal Soon
1h agoLebanon and Israel Resume Negotiations in Rome
2h agoBessent: Energy Prices Should Ease Soon
2h agoBessent: US May Secure Iran Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz by Tomorrow
2h agoQatar Confirms Ongoing Diplomacy While Iran Denies War Expansion Plans

Recent wire photos from Gaza show a funeral for 112 Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike from November 2023. Gaza’s Civil Defense agency recovered the remains after two weeks of searching debris.

Jillian Ambrose

Donald Trump has faulted oil firms for “making too much money” amid global energy market turmoil from his campaign against Iran.

Brent crude traded near $70 (£52) a barrel before initial US-Israeli strikes in late February, climbed to $126 by end of April, and now sits around $85.

The US president targeted windfall gains reported last week by ExxonMobil and Chevron, urging firms to “give some of that back to the public”.

“They’re profiting excessively from scarcity,” he told reporters at the White House on Monday evening. “I don’t like it.”

Trump spoke hours before BP announced profits had doubled last quarter to $5.7bn.

Lebanon and Israel Resume Negotiations in Rome

Meanwhile, Lebanese and Israeli negotiators have restarted direct discussions in Rome, the seventh round since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in March.

In televised comments, Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, condemned the meetings, warning of “shame, humiliation and disappointment” for Lebanon plus “successive concessions”.

Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam responded on X: “The greatest help to Israel came from those who dragged Lebanon into pointless wars... and gave it excuses to strike our nation.”

June talks produced a framework involving Hezbollah disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese army deployment there. Hezbollah has rejected the process and refused to yield arms.

While clashes have mostly paused, occasional Israeli strikes persist in southern Lebanon since June, with villages demolished and thousands displaced.

Bessent: Energy Prices Should Ease Soon

In further CNBC remarks, Bessent reiterated Trump administration assertions that Iran’s military has been “wiped out”, even as Tehran launches missiles at Gulf states.

On the Strait of Hormuz, he described conditions as “still a little dicey” yet noted “quite a few ships” exiting “even now”.

He added: “I expect the energy prices to settle back down.”

Reports today indicated a vessel struck by an “unknown projectile” in the strait near Oman’s coast, with one crew member missing (see post at 13:28).

Brent crude, which rose earlier, has fallen 3.4% to $80.88 a barrel.

Bessent: US May Secure Iran Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz by Tomorrow

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent stated Washington could finalize a deal with Iran by tomorrow to reopen the strait of Hormuz.

“We are negotiating with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move toward normalization in this conflict,” Bessent said in a CNBC interview.

“It would be freedom of movement,” he added regarding possible shipping tolls by Iran.

Iran offered no immediate response, having earlier rejected claims of US negotiations.

Qatar Confirms Ongoing Diplomacy While Iran Denies War Expansion Plans

Welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.

Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed efforts for a diplomatic solution between the US and Iran remain “ongoing”, despite mixed signals from Tehran and Washington on talks.

“We can confirm that the efforts are still ongoing with all parties,” ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told reporters today.

Negotiations target “a short-term resolution that would help us restart the talks and return to full mediation efforts”.

He added: “Our focus right now is on lowering escalation, reopening the strait [of Hormuz], and reopening the door for diplomacy between the parties.”

US president Donald Trump said yesterday that talks with Iran had resumed, telling reporters: “This is the last chance for them to sign a good document.”

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei rejected Trump’s statements, saying: “We are not currently negotiating with the United States.” He noted only talks with Oman on reopening shipping in the strait of Hormuz.

The key waterway, which carried a fifth of global oil and gas before the war, has been largely closed since late February, with vessels facing attacks.

Overnight, a cargo ship near Oman’s coast in the strait of Hormuz was “hit by an unknown projectile”, per UK Maritime Trade Operations. The ship was 20 nautical miles north-east of Al Khasab when struck. UKMTO gave no further details.

Reuters later identified the Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer as hit by an unknown projectile near Oman. It remains unclear if linked to the UKMTO report.

British maritime risk firm Vanguard reported the projectile struck the engine room, sparking a fire in the accommodation area, Reuters said.

“The crew are fighting the fire and require assistance, while the third engineer is reported missing,” Vanguard said.

In Gaza, a mass funeral is underway for 112 Palestinians whose remains were recovered after nearly three years under rubble in Gaza City. Associated Press reported they were among over 300 killed on 22 November 2023 when Israeli warplanes destroyed an apartment block in Sabra. Bodies were retrieved over the weekend after 136 hours of work by emergency teams, per Palestinian Civil Defence.

Despite an October ceasefire with Hamas, Israel has bombed Gaza nearly daily, with July the deadliest month for strikes this year. Gaza’s health ministry reported 152 killed last month, and heavy bombing Sunday killed 18 more.

Trump’s Board of Peace, set up earlier this year under the US-brokered ceasefire, shifted its conditions for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza after officials met Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday.

“We note that the withdrawal of the IDF beyond the yellow line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators. This applies to light weapons, heavy weapons and the tunnels alike,” the Board of Peace said.

In last week’s peace roadmap, the board tied “complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip” to disarmament, suggesting simultaneous steps. Yet it left unclear how this would occur, with each side demanding the other move first.