Middle East crisis live: Rubio hopes US can reach Hormuz deal with Iran ‘very shortly’ as officials say progress has been made

Key Points:

• Iran and Oman have made progress toward a deal to reopen the strait of Hormuz, proposing ships enter via an Iranian-controlled route and exit through an Omani-controlled one, with fees for security and environmental protection; final terms remain under negotiation and tied to lifting the US blockade on Iran’s ports.
• US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, acknowledge progress in talks with Iran and Oman on reopening the strait but report no finalized agreement yet, expressing hope for a deal imminently to restore safe maritime traffic.
• The strategic waterway’s reopening could mark a significant victory for Iran, but the US opposes any tolling by Iran and insists on maintaining the strait as an open international waterway without control by any party.
• Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel have resumed US-facilitated direct talks in Rome aimed at implementing a framework deal involving Hezbollah’s disarmament and troop redeployments, despite Hezbollah’s rejection and ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon.
• In Gaza, a mass funeral was held for 112 Palestinians killed nearly three years ago in an Israeli airstrike, while Israeli-Palestinian hostilities continue despite a ceasefire, with recent heavy bombings causing further casualties.