Iran and Oman report Hormuz reopen progress as Trump calls talks Iran’s ‘last chance’

Tuesday, August 4, 2026Developing

World Desk

What we know

Regional officials told AP on Tuesday that Iran and Oman had made progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with an emerging concept of inbound transit under Iranian control and outbound under Oman—possibly with service fees—still under negotiation and linked by some parties to lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said bilateral talks with Oman focused on “safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “progress… but not finality yet”; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC there was “a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow.”

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari separately said indirect U.S.–Iran talks were in “very progressive stages,” with draft agreement language circulating, even as Tehran has publicly denied negotiating with Washington and insisted talks are only with Oman. President Trump called the moment Iran’s “last chance,” sequencing a Hormuz reopen as phase one and denuclearization as phase two. UKMTO reported a cargo vessel hit by an “unknown projectile” off Oman’s coast in the strait; Ambrey said the ship sustained damage.

What's confirmed

AP: Iran–Oman progress toward Hormuz reopen; dual-route concept still fluid; U.S. official rejects Iranian approvals/tolls on “temporary” routes (AP).
Rubio: progress, not finality; Bessent: possible deal “today or tomorrow”; Trump: “last chance,” Hormuz then denuclearization (AP; Foreign Policy).
Qatar’s al-Ansari: indirect talks “very progressive stages”; draft language circulating; focus on avoiding escalation and reopening the strait (Foreign Policy; CNN).
UKMTO: cargo ship struck by unknown projectile near Oman coast; Ambrey: vessel damaged (AP).

What's still developing

Whether any Hormuz corridor includes Iranian tolls/control—opposed by Trump/U.S. officials—or a fee-free temporary route.
Scope of indirect U.S.–Iran drafts vs. Tehran’s public Oman-only framing; risk of renewed U.S. strikes if talks stall.

Sources

AP News — Iran–Oman Hormuz progress; dual-route concept; Rubio/Bessent; Trump last-chance framing; UKMTO projectile strike link
Foreign Policy — Qatar confirms indirect U.S.–Iran talks; al-Ansari draft language; Trump “last chance”; Bessent timeline link
CNN — Aug. 4 live: Qatar “very progressive stages”; Rubio progress without finality; projectile-hit cargo vessel link