Trump says deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday

CAIRO - U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal on the Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday or Thursday, while Iran and Oman inched toward an agreement to reopen the critical waterway and potentially help bring an end to the war.

Trump was asked by reporters traveling with him in California about a report on the Axios news site that an announcement on the Strait of Hormuz could be made on Wednesday.

"It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day," he said, speaking on Tuesday evening California time, which was already Wednesday morning in the Middle East. "A lot of progress has been made."

The possible agreement emerging from talks between Iran and Oman calls for ships to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, two regional officials told The Associated Press. Service fees would be charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations.

The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control over the strait, which was an open international waterway before the the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. About one fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passed through the strait, but shipping through the waterway has been reduced to a trickle at best by Iran's attacks since the start of the war.

In an exchange with reporters on Monday, the U.S. president reiterated his public opposition to tolls being charged in the strait. "I'm not going to let them charge," Trump said. "Anybody's going to charge, we'll charge."

The regional officials said negotiations are still underway and that the final agreement could take a different form, with any deal linked to lifting the U.S. blockade on Iran's ports.

A U.S. official familiar with the negotiations said any "temporary" routes would not involve approvals by Iran or charges, and that Washington remains committed to the status quo in which "no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them."

"An agreement formalizing Iran's control of the strait would mark a significant strategic victory for Tehran."

Rubio has "previously ruled out any deal giving Iran control, calling it a 'very dangerous precedent.'"

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said talks with Oman focus on "establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes" that "uphold sovereign rights while also addressing the national security considerations of both Iran and Oman." He added: "The final results of these negotiations will be announced once concluded."

"The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization," adding "And that will take a little while."

"There's been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We're hoping that will happen very shortly."

"There is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position..." (Bessent to CNBC; on tolls: "I think it would be freedom of movement.")