Day 160 | Iran, Oman agree on Strait of Hormuz shipping route
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that Iran and Oman have agreed on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and are finalizing an agreement to jointly manage vessel traffic.
Iran has exercised effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important energy shipping lanes, since the United States and ‘Israel’ launched a war against it on February 28.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that Tehran is seeking an agreement to reopen the strait to commercial shipping.
Iran has denied that claim, saying it will instead make arrangements with its neighbor across the waterway, Oman.
Iran's official news agency, IRNA, quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei as saying: "The geographic coordinates of the route envisioned by both sides have been agreed upon. If certain third parties do not obstruct the process, the joint statement by the two countries, which includes the main considerations and points of agreement, is also in the final stage of review and drafting."
Baqaei also told reporters that talks with Oman are progressing, but stressed that reaching an understanding with Muscat does not mean the strait has become safe for all passing vessels.
"The factors that make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe on the part of the United States remain in place, particularly the naval blockade and other hostile actions and threats directed against Iran and its interests," he said.
Before the outbreak of the war, about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy prices have risen repeatedly since the conflict over the waterway began, increasing economic and political pressure on Washington to bring it to an end.
Several wounded in overnight 'Israeli' strikes on southern Lebanon
Several people were wounded in overnight 'Israeli' air strikes on the southern Lebanese towns of Burj Shemali and al-Mansouri, while artillery shelling and machinegun fire continued to target nearby areas into the morning, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
Two ‘Israeli’ soldiers killed in southern Lebanon by explosive device: military
The ‘Israeli’ military announced Thursday morning that two soldiers were killed yesterday and four were seriously injured in southern Lebanon.
They are identified as Major (Res.) Harel Birenstock and Chief Master Sergeant (Res.) Tamir Vaknin.
The statement did not give further details on how they were killed.
But Hebrew media said the soldiers were killed on Wednesday by an improvised explosive device (IED) likely planted by Hezbollah while searching a building in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon – an area occupied by the ‘Israeli’ military.
‘Israeli’ military accidentally fires missile at its own forces in Lebanon
The ‘Israeli’ military said Thursday that it fired an interceptor missile at its own forces in southern Lebanon.
The target the missile was launched at was later revealed to have been fire by ‘Israeli’ forces during what they say were “operations” in southern Lebanon.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which is under investigation, the statement by the military adds.
Trump says he’d “rather make a deal” with Iran because he doesn’t want to kill people
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that prefers to strike a deal with Tehran, as he “doesn’t want to kill people”.
“We're knocking the hell out of them, knocking the hell out of them,” Trump said in Las Vegas.
“I'd rather make a deal, because I don't want to kill people. I do not want to kill people”.
“But we are talking, let's see what happens,” he adds.
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Read more: Day 159 | US hopeful Hormuz deal will be done “today or tomorrow”
