A Deal To Reopen The Strait Of Hormuz Appears To Be Close; But Iranian Media Says It Excludes U.S. And Israeli Ships

The deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would exclude American and Israeli ships from transiting, according to Iran’s state outlet Fars.

The outlet, according to an account from CNBC, claimed that cargo or other vessels from Israel would also be prevented from passing through the waterway. “Countries and individuals that have caused damage to Iran” would fall into the same category until harm made to the country is “compensated,” the outlet added, citing a member of the country’s parliament.

Iran will also issue penalties of up to 20% of the value of the vessel’s cargo if the new rules are violated. They are a framework to resume negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which would begin a new 60-day period.

The plan has not been publicly confirmed by Iran, and the White House has not commented on it either.

However, President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that talks are “working out quite well,” but again warned strikes could resume if they fail. “We are ready to go,” he said.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, on his end, said the U.S. is ready to “return to commitments.”

He did not elaborate, but was likely referring to the memorandum of understanding sign between the countries in mid June, where Iran agreed to allow for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz without collecting fees for 60 days. The U.S. had made different commitments of its own, including the blockade of Iranian ports.

Gharibabadi also said current negotiations involving navigation through the waterway are taking place between Iran and Oman, and “no negotiations with the US have taken place during this period.”

He noted that an “understanding” between the countries about navigation was close to being finalized, with Tehran saying that “old routes no longer meet the current difficult conditions that have jeopardized the national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei had also said that a deal was close provided that “some third parties do not obstruct work in this regard.”