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Iran and Oman are inching toward a deal to reopen the disputed Strait of Hormuz and potentially help bring an end to the war. The emerging agreement 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. Any deal, though, appears contingent on the United States lifting its blockade on Iran's ports. The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control over the strait. Elsewhere, a mass funeral was held in Gaza City for more than 100 people killed in an Israeli strike early in the conflict. A memorial service was also held in Beirut, for victims of a 2020 port explosion, and Yemen's Houthis claimed they fired at a Saudi Arabian airport. Here is a look at the most important developments in the Middle East on Tuesday: US officials suggest strait deal imminent Senior US officials struck an optimistic tone on Tuesday, suggesting a deal
A ship caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz near the coastline of Oman, the British military said. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued a warning about the fire, saying it was unclear what sparked the blaze. The US military has been encouraging ships to use a route near Oman to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with attacks targeting those vessels, insisting it must have control over the crucial waterway through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime. The United States began a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles toward Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. Step by step, the US and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month's interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely
A tanker came under attack travelling through the Strait of Hormuz taking the route closest to Oman, the British military said Friday. The report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre described the strike as happening early Friday and involving a projectile hitting the vessel. The UKMTO said the ship sustained minor damage to its port side. "All crew are safe and accounted for, no environmental impact has been reported and the vessel is continuing to its next port of call," the UKMTO said. Iran has been attacking tankers travelling on the route near Oman but did not immediately acknowledge any attack.
Sourabh Chandrakar, the absconding founder and prime accused in the Mahadev betting app syndicate, has been detained in Oman, and India is trying to either get him extradited or deported from that country, officials said on Wednesday. They said Chandrakar, a Chhattisgarh resident who is in his 30s, was detained by the Royal Oman Police a few weeks ago based on an Interpol Red Notice issued against him by Indian probe agencies like the ED and Chhattisgarh Police. The ED, a federal anti-money laundering probe agency, previously stated that the Mahadev betting app case involves various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh and the alleged proceeds of crime generated in this case stand at Rs 6,000 crore. Investigators following his trail, apart from that of his partner and co-founder of the app Ravi Uppal, told PTI that informal inputs suggest Chandrakar was allegedly travelling on a passport from a Southeast Asian country. Indian agencies last stated that ...
A tanker travelling off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz caught on fire early Tuesday morning after being struck by a projectile, the British military said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the tanker had been hit near Limah, Oman, in the strait. It said the projectile hit the port side of the vessel while trying to travelling south out of the strait toward the Gulf of Oman. It said there was no environmental impact from the strike and that authorities were investigating. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though Iran is suspected of attacking at least two other vessels in the strait travelling on a route near Oman in recent days.
The Indian Embassy in Muscat on Sunday said it was working to facilitate the earliest repatriation of the body of an Indian national who died due to medical complications aboard a vessel in Oman waters. In a social media post, the mission said it remained in close touch with the family members of Nishanth Uirthanathan, crew members of the vessel MT Celestial and the concerned authorities. However, it did not provide details of the medical conditions that led to Uirthanathan's death. "The Embassy remains in active coordination with local Omani authorities, port officials and the shipping company regarding Mr Nishanth Uirthanathan, who unfortunately died onboard MT Celestial due to medical conditions," the mission said in a post on X. It further said that the vessel is soon expected to berth at Duqm port, located in the southeastern coast of the Gulf country. "Necessary arrangements have been made for prompt recovery of the mortal remains from the vessel," it said. "The Mission is