Diplomacy and deterrence converged on Friday as mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman secured a consensus that no tolls will be charged for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, following the first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland. The breakthrough, announced hours after two Qatari liquefied natural gas tankers passed through the chokepoint under a temporary corridor opened by Oman, removes one of the most contentious obstacles to reopening the waterway after months of wartime disruption. A second round of negotiations is scheduled for next week in Geneva, but Washington and its Gulf partners immediately warned that any attempt by Tehran to impose fees would scuttle the entire process.

Speaking in Manama after a meeting with the six Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Washington would not accept “total chaos” in the Gulf and insisted that any Iran deal must safeguard the interests of America’s regional partners. “Gulf security remains central to our diplomatic efforts,” Rubio said . President Donald Trump echoed the warning on Wednesday, telling reporters that talks would end immediately if Iran sought to levy charges on shipping .

The fragile détente was tested within hours when Iran launched an attack on a cargo vessel in the strait, forcing the United Nations to suspend mariner evacuation efforts and sending Brent crude prices up 2% to $72.24 a barrel . Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei responded to Washington’s statements by urging the US to refrain from interpretations that contradict the explicit text of the recent memorandum, warning that contradictory remarks risk deepening accumulated mistrust .

Against this backdrop, more than 20 oil tankers carrying 35 million barrels of crude resumed passage through the strait on Thursday, pushing Brent crude down 1.7% to below $72.50 a barrel as wartime supply fears eased . The tentative recovery in energy shipments follows Oman’s opening of a temporary maritime corridor on Thursday, coordinated with the International Maritime Organization and used by two Qatari LNG carriers .

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus struck a cautiously optimistic note in Baku, welcoming the progress in Switzerland while calling for comprehensive reform across the Islamic world and an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon . Meanwhile, the US Senate blocked a resolution that would have directed President Trump to withdraw American forces from hostilities against Iran, with Republicans citing the risk that congressional interference could undermine ongoing peace negotiations .

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Erdoğan, Mauritanian president discuss trade, defence cooperation President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani discussed bilateral ties and regional issues by phone. Erdoğan said concrete steps in trade, agriculture, fisheries, security, and defence could add momentum to relations.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Kurtulmus calls for Islamic world reform, welcomes US-Iran progress Numan Kurtulmus told the Parliamentary Union of the OIC in Baku on Wednesday that the Islamic world needs comprehensive reform from "A to Z," welcoming positive developments in Switzerland-based US-Iran negotiations while calling for an end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and the war imposed on Tehran.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Iran warns US against contradicting memorandum text Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called on Washington to refrain from interpretations that are completely contrary to the explicit text of the recent memorandum, warning that contradictory remarks by US officials risk deepening accumulated mistrust among Iranians.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Trump criticizes NATO allies over disappointing Iran war support US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment Wednesday with several key NATO members including Italy, the UK, Germany and France over their insufficient support during the war with Iran, while Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the US leaders commitment to the alliance.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Rubio: Iran deal must not contradict interests of US partners US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that any Iran nuclear agreement must safeguard the interests of Washingtons regional partners, emphasizing that Gulf security remains central to American diplomatic efforts during high-level talks with GCC foreign ministers in Bahrains capital.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Qatari LNG tankers transit Hormuz as Gulf trade rebounds Two Qatari liquefied natural gas carriers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday as security concerns eased following recent peace talks between Washington and Tehran, marking a tentative recovery in energy shipments through the strategic chokepoint after months of severe wartime disruption.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

US and Gulf ministers open talks in Bahrain amid regional shift Secretary of State Marco Rubio and foreign ministers from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states opened high-level talks in Bahrain on Thursday, gathering to discuss regional security and economic cooperation following the recent US-Iran memorandum and the resumption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

US Senate blocks resolution to end military role in Iran The US Senate rejected a resolution Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove American forces from hostilities against Iran, with the measure failing amid Republican concerns that congressional interference could undermine ongoing peace negotiations.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Oil prices retreat as Strait of Hormuz reopens to tankers Brent crude fell 1.7 to below $72.50 per barrel on Thursday as more than 20 oil tankers carrying 35 million barrels of crude resumed passage through the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Iran agreement to reopen the strategic waterway, easing wartime supply fears.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

No tolls for Hormuz passage as diplomacy gathers pace Mediators including Qatar, Pakistan and Oman have reached consensus that no fees will be charged for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, following positive initial US‑Iran talks in Switzerland. A second round is set for next week, while Tehran insists its ballistic missile programme is not on the table.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

GCC: Regional arrangements must safeguard Gulf security interests Gulf foreign ministers meeting with US Secretary of State Rubio in Manama emphasised that any future regional understandings must incorporate GCC security requirements and preserve their interests, based on international law, sovereignty, and non‑interference.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Iraq denies OPEC exit threat, urges quota review Iraqs Oil Ministry has denied reports that Baghdad is threatening to withdraw from OPEC, while reiterating calls for production quotas to reflect members sustainable capacity and Iraqs unique security and economic challenges. The ministry confirmed OPEC is reviewing members maximum sustainable production.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Half of South Korean ships stranded in Hormuz Strait exit Thirteen of 26 South Korean-linked vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz have passed through following the waterways reopening, according to Yonhap News Agency. The IMO has begun evacuating around 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

Oil prices climb after attack in Strait of Hormuz halts evacuation plan Brent crude rises after cargo ship comes under attack in key waterway.

aljazeera · about 3 hours ago

Iran-US war latest: Tehran strikes ship in Strait of Hormuz as countries try to reopen oil route The recent strike poses a threat to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

independent · about 3 hours ago

US, Gulf states demand Hormuz reopening, reject tolls and control Washington and Gulf Cooperation Council members meeting in Manama on Thursday demanded the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting any attempts to impose fees or assert control over the vital waterway while stressing their shared objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

yenisafak · about 4 hours ago

Trump warns Iran talks would end if Hormuz tolls imposed US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that diplomatic negotiations with Iran would terminate immediately if Tehran attempts to collect fees from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such tolls would derail ongoing efforts to address regional tensions.

yenisafak · about 4 hours ago

Attack in Strait of Hormuz halts evacuation plan for stranded ships International Maritime Organization announces pause after container ship was hit by unknown projectile

financial times · about 5 hours ago

Iran-US war latest: Tehran strikes ship in Strait of Hormuz as countries try to reopen oil route It comes as oil prices hit $72.24 a barrel, lower than the day before Iran war began

independent · about 6 hours ago

US seeks Iran deal, but not at any price, Rubio says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Washington would not accept any Iran deal allowing Tehran to impose fees on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, warning it would cause "total chaos." His remarks came after an attack on a vessel forced the United Nations to suspend mariner evacuation efforts. 👉 Read more:

telegram bot · about 6 hours ago