US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that negotiations with Iran on the safe passage of commercial vessels through key regional waterways are progressing, but have not yet been finalised.
Speaking to reporters at the State Department, Rubio said there had been “progress” in the talks and expressed hope that an agreement would be reached “very shortly.”
He said the United States was involved in discussions with Oman and Iran on arrangements to allow more commercial ships to transit the region safely in the short term.
Rubio noted that oil shipments were continuing through the waterways, saying, “The straits are open,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb.
The Bab el-Mandeb, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, is a key maritime route linking the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making it vital for trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Earlier on Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said talks with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz were continuing and that an agreement to ensure the reopening of the strategic waterway could be reached as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.
Rubio added that while negotiations over maritime access were receiving significant attention, Washington’s broader objective remained reaching a comprehensive agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme.