Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Oman on Saturday to discuss arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, even as Washington intensified its military posture and declared an end to a fragile ceasefire. This diplomatic effort unfolded amidst renewed US airstrikes that killed at least 17 people in Iran earlier this week.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States and Iran had agreed to continue talks, yet simultaneously declared the ceasefire between the two sides "OVER!" This contradictory stance came after a week of escalating hostilities.
No attacks were reported on Friday or early Saturday, but a senior Iranian source informed Reuters that a call between Iran, the United States, Qatar, and Pakistan had been agreed upon. Mediators were actively trying to arrange this discussion for Saturday, coinciding with Araqchi's presence in Oman.
Oman continues its role in mediating an end to a conflict now in its fifth month, a war that has spread insecurity across the Gulf and driven up global prices since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.
Escalating US Aggression
Reports from CBS News and its UK partner the BBC indicated that U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected to lead negotiations on Saturday with Araqchi. However, Iran's Fars news agency later cited a source asserting that no negotiations would proceed until the United States retreated from its current positions.
Earlier in the week, three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire, prompting the United States to launch strikes on Iranian sites. Iran responded with its own strikes on U.S. military sites located in Gulf states.
Foreign Minister Araqchi accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement, a claim underscored by Washington's revocation of the license authorizing the sale of Iranian crude on Tuesday, four days ago, following the vessel incidents. "There can only be mutual compliance," Araqchi wrote on X.
Senior U.S. officials told reporters on Friday that Iran had communicated to them that recent attacks on shipping in the strait stemmed from an "errant part of their system." These comments appeared designed to de-escalate tensions, yet the broader flare-up cast further doubt over the future of an interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict.
Sanctions and Threats
The renewed instability pushed oil prices higher, creating a politically sensitive issue for President Trump ahead of November congressional elections later this year. Qatari negotiators met officials in Iran on Friday, working to de-escalate tensions and specifically discuss the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.
President Trump had posted on Friday that he ordered the U.S. military to be prepared to launch thousands of missiles against Iran if Tehran attempted to assassinate him. This threat followed reports from The Wall Street Journal and other U.S. media this week, stating that Israel had shared intelligence with Washington suggesting Iran had recently devised a plan to assassinate Trump.
There was no immediate comment from Iran regarding Trump's latest remarks. At the funeral ceremonies held on Thursday, two days ago, a massive crowd of mourners filled a courtyard, with some displaying banners that read, "We Will Kill Trump."
Regional Destabilization
The interim deal reached last month was intended to pave the way for an end to the conflict, now in its fifth month. This war has claimed thousands of lives, severely disrupted worldwide energy supplies, and heightened fears of a global economic downturn.
During the conflict, Tehran has largely asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a strategic stalemate. The United States is demanding that Iran publicly commit to stopping attacks on ships in the strait and ensure all lanes are open without tolls through the waterway, which carried one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war.
The head of the public relations and information center at Iran's Health Ministry reported that at least 17 people were killed in U.S. strikes on six cities in Iran on Wednesday and Thursday, two to three days ago. He added that 115 people sustained injuries in these attacks.
Despite these deadly strikes, U.S. officials claimed that conversations between the two countries had been productive in recent days. Tehran, for its part, stated that any breach of commitments by Washington would be met with "reciprocal action." Renewed fighting in the Gulf has intensified economic hardship for U.S. consumers. After weeks of steady declines, crude oil prices recorded their biggest weekly rise in eight weeks.