Iran has emphasised that negotiations with Oman alone will not be sufficient to restore normal operations in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that wider conditions must be met before the strategic waterway can return to its previous status.

According to Fars News Agency, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team stated that even if bilateral talks with Oman succeed, the “necessary conditions” for reopening the Strait would remain unmet.

The source explained that the closure of the Strait was directly linked to America’s breach of agreement. Without halting US attacks on Iran and fulfilling all prerequisites, the situation would not revert to the way it was a month ago.

It was further clarified that Iran’s negotiations are strictly with Oman regarding future arrangements for managing the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran is not engaged in direct talks with the United States.

The discussions between Iran and Oman are reportedly focused on a proposed middle corridor. This corridor would safeguard Iran’s interests while also addressing Omani concerns over maritime navigation through the strategically vital waterway.

Fars News added that conflicting signals from US officials, whether delivered directly or via regional partners, have complicated the process. Tehran fears that external interference could delay or even derail the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera, citing unnamed Israeli sources, reported that US President Donald Trump and his advisers are seeking an agreement with Iran “at any cost.” Israel is said to be receiving much of its information about the talks indirectly from Washington.

Diplomatic manoeuvres are unfolding against a backdrop of concerns about US military readiness. CNN reported that the US military has depleted nearly 80 per cent of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor inventory and about half of its Patriot missile interceptors since the conflict with Iran began.

Senior US commanders have reportedly warned that the Pentagon’s stockpile of critical munitions is “dangerously low.” Air defence systems have been heavily used during operations linked to the conflict.

Gulf countries have expressed alarm that shrinking US interceptor inventories could weaken their own ability to defend against potential Iranian missile and drone attacks if hostilities escalate.

These concerns reportedly influenced President Trump’s decision to suspend planned military strikes against Iran over the weekend. Gulf allies cautioned that retaliation could target regional energy infrastructure.

Despite the shortages, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN that the US military retains “more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump’s strategic goals and beyond.”

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell similarly asserted that the US military maintains the capabilities required to conduct operations “at the time and place of the President’s choosing.”

The Strait of Hormuz continues to be one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. It handles a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making its security central to international energy markets and regional stability.

ANI