Trump says Hormuz Strait deal could be announced within days

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz could be announced as early as Wednesday or Thursday, confirming a report cited by the Associated Press during his schedule in California. Speaking late Tuesday California time, which corresponds to early Wednesday in the Middle East, Trump told reporters: "It could be. Tomorrow or the day after. A lot of progress has been made." The remarks come amid negotiations between Iran and Oman aimed at reopening the strategic waterway and ending a possible conflict. According to two regional officials, the draft framework emerging from the Iran-Oman talks would allow ships to enter through an Iranian-controlled lane in the Persian Gulf and exit through an Omani-controlled lane. The officials said service fees would be charged in exchange for security and protection of the maritime environment. The Trump administration had previously ruled out any deal that would grant Iran control over the Strait of Hormuz, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The strait carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas, and traffic has fallen sharply since the start of the war due to Iranian-origin attacks on shipping.