U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran would begin Monday afternoon, claiming regional allies believed agreements on both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear issue were within reach. His remarks came hours after a reported explosion near a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman, drawing renewed attention to security in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
According to IRAF, speaking to reporters early Monday, Trump claimed that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iran had all urged him to cancel a planned military strike.
“The attack could have been very extensive, but when your allies make such a request, you have to say, ‘Let’s see what happens,'” Trump said.
He further claimed that U.S. allies believed progress had been made toward agreements concerning the Strait of Hormuz as well as Iran’s nuclear program.
Asked about the future of relations with Tehran, Trump said the two sides were engaged in a negotiating process and asserted that formal talks would begin on Monday afternoon.
“This process could save many lives,” he said.
Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a maritime incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. local time approximately 20 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.
According to the report, the master of a tanker heard an explosion near the vessel. However, the ship sustained no damage, and all crew members were reported safe.
Trump’s comments coincided with heightened regional tensions in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in recent weeks. While no connection has been established between the reported maritime incident and the U.S. president’s remarks, the timing has drawn renewed attention from international observers to security developments around the Strait of Hormuz.
