The United States is working to establish a route that would allow commercial ships to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz while maintaining pressure on Iran, US Vice President JD Vance said on Saturday. Speaking to Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany, Vance said Washington was in talks with Tehran as it sought to maximise the flow of oil and gas through the strategically important waterway. “We're talking to the Iranians, of course. We're trying to maximise the amount of oil and gas that is coming out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Vance said.
‘We don’t trust Iran’
Vance said the proposed arrangement includes a commitment from Iran not to fire on commercial vessels. Tehran has also told Washington that it would allow the maximum possible flow of oil through the strait. However, the US Vice President made clear that Washington remained sceptical about Tehran's assurances, saying the US “doesn't trust” Iran. Vance said Washington was trying to secure its objectives from the current conflict while continuing to exert pressure on Tehran.
Vance says pressure will continue
The Vice President also said the US would maintain pressure on Iran while seeking broader changes in Tehran's relationship with Washington. Vance claimed the US had destroyed Iran's nuclear programme and conventional military capabilities and significantly reduced its asymmetric military capabilities. His remarks come as diplomatic efforts intensify over the future of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy transit routes.
Iran, Oman move closer to deal
Iran, meanwhile, said on Saturday that it was close to reaching an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz but stressed that such an arrangement would not, by itself, result in the reopening of the waterway. Tehran has demanded US compensation, an end to hostilities and sanctions relief as conditions for fully reopening the strait. A US official had earlier told Reuters that Washington expected an Iran-Oman agreement soon and that the proposed arrangement was aimed at allowing commercial shipping to move through the strait without impediments. Any US response, including changes to its blockade of Iranian ports, would depend on Tehran fulfilling its commitments.
Hormuz crucial for global energy supplies
The negotiations carry major implications for global energy markets, which have been disrupted by restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict earlier this year. The waterway is a critical passage for global oil and gas shipments, and prolonged disruption has contributed to higher energy prices and inflationary pressures worldwide.