Iran Says Talks with Oman Progressing, Meetings with Pakistan Ongoing

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that talks with Oman to exert permanent control over the Strait of Hormuz are making progress, as are efforts to forge a close partnership with Pakistan — which was, until very recently, billing itself as a neutral mediator in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said there has been "positive" movement in discussions with Oman over controlling the Strait of Hormuz – with an eye toward extorting "fees" from international shipping through the vital waterway.

Iran wants the power to shut down the entire Strait when it desires.

U.S. negotiators are seeking guarantees that the Strait will remain open.

Only the first 60 days of the arrangement would be explicitly free of tolls, fees, and ransoms.

"There are ships moving through the Straits. There's oil moving right now through the Straits. The Straits are open," Rubio said.

Trump: "having it open literally by tomorrow, completely open." The article frames the Iranian fee scheme as "extorting 'fees'" and says Iran "reportedly rejected Oman's joint fee-collection plan: 'fees' for imaginary services provided to oil tankers."