The United States has issued a stern ultimatum to Iran ahead of scheduled negotiations on Saturday, demanding that Tehran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open and commit to ceasing all attacks on commercial shipping. US officials have indicated that this public pledge is a prerequisite for any positive outcome in the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Reports from US media suggest that Iranian officials have privately admitted to advisors of President Donald Trump that the recent firing on commercial ships was a mistake. Tehran reportedly attributed these actions to a rogue internal group attempting to undermine the negotiation process. Despite the recent escalation, which the White House characterized as a violation of a ceasefire agreement signed in June, President Trump confirmed that both nations have agreed to continue discussions.
As part of the diplomatic push, the US has conveyed a clear message to Iranian leadership through regional mediators. “They’re either going to give us that statement or we’re not having a good outcome for them,” said one official, quoted by Reuters news agency. The White House is also seeking a public acknowledgment from Tehran that the targeting of vessels was an error.
The negotiation team representing the US is expected to include Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. These talks are slated to take place in Oman. Concurrently, a Qatari delegation visited Iran on Friday to assist in de-escalating tensions and ensuring safer navigation through the contested waterway.
The situation remains volatile, particularly regarding maritime routes. Three ships were recently struck while traveling along a US-recommended path through Omani waters, whereas Iran maintains that the only safe passage involves a separate route through its own territorial waters. President Trump noted on Truth Social that while the US has agreed to further talks, the previous ceasefire is officially over.
Overall progress came last month when the two nations had reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding intended to extend a ceasefire and resolve conflicts across all fronts. This agreement included provisions for Iran and Oman to collaborate with other Gulf states on the future administration of the strait, a region where Iran has previously sought to assert its sovereignty through the establishment of a “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” to manage passage permits.
Tehran said that an "errant" sect of hardliners was trying to undermine negotiations by firing on the commercial ships, senior US officials told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
One official told the TV network: "They [the Iranians] came back to the table and said, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking.'"
