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Oman and Iran are reportedly moving closer to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with regional officials indicating negotiations are progressing even as key issues remain unresolved.
Discussions between Muscat and Tehran have made progress, although more time is needed before an agreement can be reached, two regional sources told CBS News.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also confirmed progress in the talks, describing the negotiations as "productive" and noting that technical and political consultations remain ongoing.
The report comes after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials on arrangements governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The visit is part of ongoing consultations aimed at establishing mechanisms to manage commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also spoke by phone with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi. The two discussed regional developments, maritime security and commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf.
The Pakistani-brokered June memorandum of understanding has been suspended since early July, when a dispute over management of the Strait of Hormuz reignited fighting between the U.S. and Iran across the region.
After the talks, Araghchi accused Washington of violating provisions of the post-war memorandum of understanding governing the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with the state-run Iran newspaper, he rejected claims that Article 5 of the agreement was ambiguous, arguing it explicitly assigns Iran responsibility for restoring navigation, determining shipping routes and overseeing mine-clearing operations.
Araghchi claimed the U.S. violated the memorandum by opening an alternative southern shipping corridor off the coast of Oman before the agreed implementation period expired.
"When Article 5 says Iran will make the arrangements, it means Iran determines the route and the necessary mechanism," he said.
He argued Tehran selected its designated route based on security and navigational safety because mine-clearing operations were still underway and maintained that Washington was repeatedly warned through direct communications as well as Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
The developments also come as The New York Times reported that Trump has shelved plans for a major expansion of military operations against Iran after advisers warned that further combat could sharply deplete U.S. air defense missile stocks.
On Friday, Trump warned that the U.S. military was "locked and loaded for a massive attack" against Iran while adding he was "not in a hurry" to launch one as negotiations continued.
According to the report, military officials cautioned that a broader campaign would reduce supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles needed to protect U.S. forces across the Middle East.
The administration also fears a wider conflict could provoke stronger Iranian retaliation, strain relations with Gulf allies and deepen global energy and refugee crises.
However, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the U.S. naval blockade of Iran remains in force, adding that U.S. forces had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade as of July 25, disabled two that failed to comply and boarded two others to verify compliance.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to travel to Washington on Monday for talks with Trump at the White House the following day. Iran and broader regional security are expected to top the agenda, while Netanyahu is also set to attend the funeral of late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
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