Former Defense Secretary warns that Iran-Oman Strait of Hormuz deal could harm U.S. interests
Mark Esper said a possible agreement between Iran and Oman to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would be a very bad outcome for the United States, as tensions over recent attacks on commercial vessels continue.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Gen. Hossein Mohebbi told state media that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen only if the United States accepts Iran’s conditions and ends its "interventionist approach." He added that the waterway is a symbol of Iran’s geopolitical power and that any reopening is independent of ongoing Iran-Oman talks.
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned a missile strike that targeted a vessel linked to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the strait, describing the incident as piracy and a threat to regional stability and global energy security. ADNOC reported that 15 of its ships have been hit by missiles or drones since late February, with three attacks occurring this week, resulting in one death and 20 injuries.
Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper appeared on Fox News to say that reports of a near-term agreement between Iran and Oman to split traffic—using a northern route into the Persian Gulf and a southern route along Oman’s coast—could be "a very bad outcome for us." He noted that the arrangement might involve fees and would place control of the strategic waterway in the hands of Tehran and Muscat, a scenario he described as detrimental to U.S. interests. Esper said President Donald Trump has said he is personally involved in the negotiations, while Iranian officials have denied direct U.S. participation.
"They may or may not charge a fee, but they would administer and control it in one way, shape, or form, which would be a very bad outcome for us," Esper said.
"I think what we’re waiting for now is to find out, is there a deal between Oman and Iran, and to what degree did the United States play a role or has a role in it," he added.
Separate talks in Rome between Israeli and Lebanese officials, mediated by the United States, produced a shortlist of countries that could verify Hezbollah’s disarmament under a June 26 agreement, but those discussions are unrelated to the Strait of Hormuz negotiations.