Iran Nears Final Draft of Oman Strait of Hormuz Agreement Amid Regional Tensions

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced on Wednesday that a draft agreement with Oman on the management of the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stage, pending a joint statement that could be blocked by parties he implied include the United States. The proposed pact is expected to depend on the U.S. lifting its blockade of Iranian ports.

The strait, a key conduit for global oil and gas shipments, has seen a modest rise in vessel transits, with 84 passages recorded during the week of July 27-August 2, up from 45 the previous week but still far below the typical pre-conflict volume of more than 700 weekly transits, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. The firm noted that two Greek-operated ships were struck in recent days and that several other vessels reported near-misses or warnings attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, though independent verification of these claims is lacking.

In southern Lebanon, an explosion killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded four others, marking the first Israeli fatalities since a cease-fire was implemented in June between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli military responded with strikes in the area, citing violations of the truce by Hezbollah, and issued a warning for residents to evacuate a nearby village.

Separately, Israeli prosecutors have charged settler Yinon Levi with reckless manslaughter and related offenses for the 2025 killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank, a rare indictment of a settler for violence against Palestinians.

In Iraq, top officials warned that any armed activity outside state authority after September 30 will be prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Law, a move aimed at consolidating control over militia groups that have resisted disarmament.

UNESCO warned that the ancient Meroe pyramids in Sudan, a World Heritage site, face heightened risk of collapse as conflict has halted preservation work.