US sees progress in Hormuz Strait talks, hopes for deal very shortly, Rubio says

"There's been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We're hoping that will happen very shortly," Rubio told reporters at the State Department.

Ansari said that the mediating countries hope that their efforts will “yield positive results in the near future.”

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Ansari noted that Qatar’s aim is, at minimum, the restore commercial shipping traffic through the waterway to what it was like before the outbreak of war in February.

Qatar said on Tuesday that mediators were making progress in efforts to end the US-Iran war after US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that talks with Tehran had started and Iran faced a "last chance" to reach a deal.

Trump's assertions followed his weekend decision to cancel plans for what he described as "massive attacks" on Iran, extending a pattern in which he has threatened major military action before pulling back and pointing to diplomatic contacts.

Iranian officials insisted no negotiations with the US were taking place.

Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed efforts to narrow differences between Washington and Tehran and improve the prospects for a lasting settlement during a phone call on Tuesday, Qatar's Emiri office said.

It said the emir stressed the importance of dialogue and adherence to the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding in mid-June, which provided for the immediate cessation of military operations.

Following Qatar's comments, oil prices dropped, with Benchmark Brent crude falling more than five percent.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said talks with Oman over transit through the strait were positive and continuing, focused on establishing safe shipping lanes, state media reported. He added the route being negotiated was aimed at ensuring the sovereign rights and national security of both Iran and Oman.

Senior US officials struck an optimistic tone, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both pointing to progress in discussions aimed at reopening the strait, a corridor that normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

"There's been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We're hoping that will happen very shortly," Rubio told reporters, while Bessent said a deal with Iran on reopening Hormuz could be reached by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Iran has halted most traffic through Hormuz while Washington maintains a blockade of Iran-related shipping and ports.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have also imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, further restricting oil export routes.

A cargo vessel reported being struck by an unidentified projectile near the Strait of Hormuz off Oman's coast, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations security agency. Maritime sources told Reuters on Tuesday the vessel was a dry bulk ship. Its crew abandoned the vessel and one seafarer was missing.

Later on Tuesday, India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal wrote on X that a projectile had hit and sunk an Indian vessel near Yemeni waters, with all 14 on board rescued by Yemen's coast guard.

Iran has long demanded control over Hormuz, which it says it should share with Oman on the opposite shore. But Tehran rejected an Omani proposal last week that would have allowed shared oversight and the collection of voluntary fees from ships.

A senior Iranian source said Tehran is seeking full control over inbound shipping and visibility over outbound traffic, with the ability to intervene if necessary.

Giving Iran such control would be a major shift in the regional balance of power and make it more difficult for Washington to argue that "Operation Epic Fury," which Trump launched alongside Israel in February, had weakened Washington's longstanding foe.

"Their big advantage is that they can hurt the regional states and the global economy," said Michael Knights of the Washington Institute.