Iran and Oman Resume Hormuz Talks as US Sanctions Pressure Tehran

Iran and Oman have resumed talks on managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, discussing a joint temporary navigational corridor and agreeing to clear mines from the vital waterway, which remains largely paralysed since the war began. An oil tanker was disabled by an unidentified projectile near Oman's coast on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump said all mines have been removed or detonated in international waters, citing the US Navy, while Washington intensifies economic pressure on Tehran through new sanctions. China warned the US it could retaliate, calling the sanctions "illicit unilateral" measures without a basis in international law. Beijing urged de-escalation and a return to dialogue, while the strait normally handles around one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments.