Trump says Strait of Hormuz reopening deal could arrive by Wednesday

According to two regional officials who spoke to the Associated Press, the proposed arrangement would channel incoming vessels through an Iranian-controlled route into the Persian Gulf, with outbound traffic using an Oman-controlled route. The split arrangement would give both countries an active role in managing maritime traffic during the reopening period.

The announcement came against a backdrop of heightened military activity in the waterway. Earlier on Tuesday, a cargo ship reported being struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, a British military outfit that monitors merchant shipping. The incident added urgency to the diplomatic track Trump described.

Shipping incident adds pressure

Oman has long served as a back-channel interlocutor between Washington and Tehran, hosting rounds of indirect talks during periods of regional tension. The latest effort appears to build on that role, with Muscat relaying messages between the Iranian side and U.S. envoys.

Iran and the United States have traded accusations in recent weeks over disruptions to commercial shipping in the Gulf, with both sides citing security concerns. Trump's comments suggested that a pause in the disruptions could be formalized in a written agreement rather than left as an informal understanding.

Energy markets reacted cautiously to the remarks, with traders noting that any reopening plan would need credible guarantees from both Iran and the United States, as well as assurances that naval escorts and convoy arrangements would be in place. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil shipments under normal conditions.

Limits of the proposed deal

The proposal would not directly resolve the broader set of disputes between Washington and Tehran, including questions over Iran's nuclear program and sanctions enforcement. Officials familiar with the talks have stressed that the shipping arrangement is intended as a stand-alone confidence-building measure.

White House officials did not immediately confirm the details outlined by the two regional officials to the Associated Press, and it remained unclear whether Iran had formally signed off on the route configuration. Trump said he expected to receive additional updates within the next day.

If confirmed, the arrangement would represent one of the most significant de-escalation steps in the Gulf since shipping disruptions intensified earlier this year. Maritime insurers and shipping companies have already begun reassessing war-risk premiums as diplomatic signals shifted.

What to watch next

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said it was continuing to monitor the incident involving the cargo ship and had issued advisories to vessels operating in the area. No casualties from the projectile strike were reported in the initial advisory.

Analysts caution that even with a signed deal, full normalization of traffic through the strait will depend on whether naval incidents cease and commercial crews regain confidence in the passage. The 24 to 48 hour window Trump cited leaves limited time to translate diplomatic language into operational protocols.