Strait of Hormuz deal near? Iran says Oman agreement almost final.

Iran announced Monday that it is close to finalizing an agreement with Oman on a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement comes as a 60-day deadline for a broader U.S.-Iran peace deal expires with no sign of progress. Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that “an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route.” He said the two countries are now working to finalize a joint statement. The proposed deal would reopen the strait to commercial shipping. Details that have emerged suggest ships would enter through a route near Iran and exit near Oman. Vessels would not pay fees or tolls during the interim period. The U.S. has demanded an acceptable deal on opening the strait before it ends its blockade of Iranian ports. It remains unclear whether this agreement will meet Washington’s criteria. Iran closed the strait after Israel and the U.S. attacked the country on Feb. 28. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies passed through the waterway. Baghaei conceded the talks with Oman have gone slowly. “But we had planned, and still plan, to finalize the understanding in the form of a package: the map plus a joint statement,” he said. His comments came as the 60-day negotiating period for a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran expired. Both sides appear as far apart as they were two months ago. In a separate development, Mideast negotiator Jared Kushner is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The talks come a day after Kushner met with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt to discuss disarmament. Netanyahu previously rejected a 15-point, U.S.-backed road map to move the truce deal forward in Gaza. Hamas says it has agreed to the plan, which includes disarmament, and is urging mediators to “compel” Israel to sign on. Israel says Hamas must fully disarm before any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli troops currently occupy about 60% of the strip. Netanyahu has previously threatened to advance further.