Mediators push Iran and US toward Strait of Hormuz deal

Mediators are still working with Iran and the United States on a deal to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with indirect talks expected to resume Monday, according to three officials. The war is entering its eighth month amid widespread economic suffering. The draft proposal would reopen the strait and lift the U.S. blockade before removing sanctions, with shipping managed under a separate Iran-Oman agreement. The U.S. has not officially rejected the current proposal despite President Trump's public comments, though Washington seeks Iranian concessions on its nuclear program. Iran's latest proposal offers a seven-day timeline for reopening the strait if the U.S. accepts its terms, which include lifting the blockade and releasing frozen assets. Both sides face economic pressure, with Brent crude above $108, while a new front has emerged involving Iran-backed rebels near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.