Iran and Oman take steps towards agreement, US halts attack

Positive signs have emerged for the end of the war with Iran that started on February 28 this year. Diplomatic talks have made progress on the issue of Abu Musa. According to US time, Iran breathed a sigh of relief on Friday night as the US military halted its attack. The attitude of the Houthi rebels remains the same, which is why tensions persist in Western Asia (Middle East). Iran is extremely angry with Ukraine, having summoned diplomats to condemn the Ukrainian attack in the Caspian Sea.

According to reports by Al Jazeera, CNN, and CBS News, diplomatic talks between Oman and Iran have made progress. The two countries have discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and their respective maritime borders in the region. Sources have indicated that things are moving in a positive direction, although it may take some time to reach a final agreement. Omani authorities visited Tehran on Friday for the talks.

The diplomatic progress is said to have occurred after US President Donald Trump's decision to halt bombing. The US military had bombed for 13 consecutive nights, but on the 14th night, after Trump's decision, the US military did not launch an attack. The White House and US Central Command (Centcom) have not commented on the matter. However, US officials have stated that President Trump is monitoring the talks between Oman and Iran.

It is also being reported that both Iran and the US are currently seeking a way to end the conflict. Mediator countries have attempted to persuade both sides. The key issue is that the US and Iran are not willing to change their stance on control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran wants to forcibly collect tolls from merchant ships, but the US naval blockade of Iranian ports is preventing this.

In this maritime war, US ally Ukraine has also jumped into the fray. Iran is outraged over Ukraine's attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, which resulted in the death of at least one sailor and the injury of another. Iran has summoned Ukrainian diplomats and condemned the attack, expressing deep concern. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has criticized Ukraine's senior diplomat, calling the attack a violation of the UN Charter.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has spoken with the EU's head of foreign affairs via phone, demanding that the UN Security Council respond to the attack. Centcom stated on X Post that it had boarded and inspected a tanker as part of the blockade of Iranian ports. According to the post, "this morning, we completed the inspection of the MT Charminalar tanker in the Arabian Sea. The tanker was then allowed to proceed." Centcom added that the blockade of Iranian ports is still in effect.

Ukraine has admitted to targeting Russian ships, some of which were carrying cargo to Iran. Ukrainian President Zelensky has accused Russia of assisting Iran's military operations in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco's oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu in response to attacks by the Saudi-led coalition on the port of Al-Hudaydah and the island of Kamaran.

Zelensky stated on X Post over the weekend that he would share evidence with the US, revealing that Russia is helping Iran target US locations in the Middle East through satellite surveillance. Zelensky said, "since the beginning of July, we have seen Russia's active satellite surveillance of Gulf countries and US military bases there." He added that these images are then passed on to Iran. Zelensky stated, "on July 19 and 20, Russian satellites captured images of military preparations at two airbases in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait."