US-Iran war Highlights: Oman, Iran agree to continue talks on Strait of Hormuz navigation

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Oman and Iran agree to continue technical and political talks on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The discussions aim to reach an agreement on safe maritime navigation under international law.

Talks will focus on technical mechanisms and political coordination for shipping in the strategic waterway.

The negotiations seek to ensure freedom and safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement was made by Oman's state news agency.

Trump administration gives Iran deadline to publicly commit to ending attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios.

US warns Iran of unspecified consequences if it fails to make the commitment by Saturday, the report said.

Washington wants Tehran to publicly declare that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international shipping.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held talks with his Omani counterpart on mechanisms to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The discussions focused on implementing Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, according to Araqchi.

Araqchi said both sides exchanged views on "appropriate mechanisms" for maintaining secure maritime navigation in the strategic waterway.

The meeting comes amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, following recent US-Iran and Israel-Iran hostilities. (Reuters)

A US military delegation met the Lebanese Army in Beirut to discuss implementing Israel's withdrawal from the first "pilot zone" in southern Lebanon.

The discussions are part of a US-backed framework agreement reached on June 26 for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon.

Under the agreement, the Lebanese Army will assume control of two pilot zones after Israeli forces pull out.

A Lebanese military official said the US delegation's primary objective is to finalize the mechanism for implementing the first pilot zone.

A US official said the first pilot zone is expected to be launched within days, with additional zones already being planned.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) will coordinate implementation with both Israel and Lebanon. (AFP)

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, Iranian officials maintained a defiant stance.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator in talks with Washington, said ending the conflict remained a global priority but rejected any suggestion that Tehran would capitulate.

"Ending the war is a priority for the countries of the world, but everyone must know that this confrontation will never end with Iran's surrender."

He added that Iranians were "fully prepared to defend ourselves."

After Iran has reiterated that it will not resume negotiations with the United States unless Washington fulfills a series of conditions, including resolving disputes over transit through the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the country's ability to export oil, senior Trump administration officials demanded that Tehran publicly declare all channels of the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping and pledge not to target civilian vessels.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that Iran would face consequences if it failed to provide such assurances.

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade and has become a major point of contention since the conflict escalated earlier this year.

The United States has accused Iran of attacking commercial vessels transiting the waterway, allegations Tehran denies. (Bloomberg)

Iran has reiterated that it will not resume negotiations with the United States unless Washington fulfills a series of conditions, including resolving disputes over transit through the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the country's ability to export oil.

According to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, citing an unnamed informed source, Tehran wants the United States to implement previously agreed understandings before any new round of talks can begin. (Bloomberg)

Even as Trump and Mojtaba Kemenei exchanged threats, regional mediators continued efforts to revive negotiations.

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday in an attempt to strengthen Doha's role as a mediator.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman for talks focused on the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional tensions.

Araghchi maintained that Tehran has complied with the memorandum of understanding signed last month.

"So far, Iran has kept its word," he said, adding that "there can only be mutual compliance."

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed optimism that talks between Iran and Oman could produce progress over the weekend, though both Washington and Tehran remain far apart on key issues including maritime security and Iran's nuclear programme.

Senior US officials cited by AP said any future nuclear agreement would require Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium—a condition Tehran has repeatedly rejected.

The officials also reportedly said Washington would not finalize any nuclear deal unless Iran first halted attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

As per the news report, according to the officials, if diplomacy fails, the US retains military options to ensure Iran's nuclear material remains inaccessible following earlier strikes on its nuclear facilities.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!,” Trump said Friday on social media.

"We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers," Khamenei said in the message.

He further asserted that those responsible "will take with them to their graves the wish for a peaceful death in bed", noting that the pursuit of revenge did not depend on any single individual or official.

"They should know that this matter does not depend on the existence of me or other officials. Whether we are there or not, this will be accomplished, and soon every free person around the world will fulfil a part of this divine mission," he added.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a written message on Telegram account, said the country remains committed to avenging the killing of his predecessor and father, describing it as a demand of the Iranian people that "must certainly" be fulfilled.

He also pledged to seek retribution for the "blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars," saying those responsible would be held accountable.

The Israeli military carried out strikes in the Hula municipality of southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district, destroying several homes, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.

The agency also reported a separate drone strike in the municipality of Kfar Tebnit.

Iranian officials have announced that a bridge in Aqqala County of Golestan province, which was damaged in an earlier US strike, has resumed operations, according to Iran's Radio and Television News Agency.

Golestan Governor Ali-Asghar Tahmasbi said the bridge was reopened in less than 24 hours after the attack, describing the swift restoration as the province's practical response to "the threats and actions of the enemies."

US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a fresh warning to Iran following public calls for his assassination during an event attended by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His remarks underscored the fragile state of regional tensions as repeated hostilities continue to test an interim agreement aimed at preventing further escalation in the Middle East.

Trump's comments, posted on Truth Social, came after senior US officials urged Tehran to publicly guarantee the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, seeking assurances that commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway would no longer face attacks.

Iranian FM Araghchi is in Oman with the visit part of ongoing consultations between Tehran and Muscat pertaining to the arrangements of the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

An Israeli drone has dropped a sound bomb on the municipality of al-Mansouri, in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, the country’s National News Agency has reported.

An explosion heard in the eastern part of Tehran province was caused by the controlled disposal of ammunition remaining from the war, Iranian state media, citing a local official, said on Saturday