Iranian Foreign Ministry Reports Final-Stage Negotiations with Oman on Strait of Hormuz as JMIC Confirms Projectile Incidents

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages. The Joint Maritime Information Center Update 079, covering March 1 to August 2, listed two confirmed maritime security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on August 1.

An LNG carrier, name withheld, was struck by an unknown projectile at 11:30 p.m. UTC on July 31 while transiting outbound, 11 nautical miles north-east of Lima, Oman.

The projectile struck the port-side engine room, causing a fire that was extinguished. The vessel lost propulsion. Omani Coast Guard provided assistance. No environmental impact was reported. UKMTO reference 101-26.

A tanker, name withheld, reported at 10:06 p.m. UTC on July 31 that the crew witnessed an unidentified projectile land in the water 5 meters from the vessel, 21 nautical miles north-east of Khasab, Oman.

The crew heard an explosion and saw flames on the water. The vessel was not struck. UKMTO reference 102-26.

President Donald Trump stated in a Truth Social post late on August 1 that the United States had been asked by Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to hold off any attack because the perimeters of a deal had been agreed to.

Trump said he agreed to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a deal. The post stated the U.S. military was locked and loaded and ready. The prospective deal would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

Mehr news agency (state-affiliated) stated on August 2 that the allegation Iran had asked the United States to refrain from new strikes “was nothing but a new lie” and that the Iranian armed forces were “on high alert and ready for any eventuality.”

U.S. Central Command stated on August 2 that forces supporting the U.S. blockade against Iran had redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2, as single-sourced by CENTCOM.

• Iranian Foreign Ministry states negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages.

• JMIC confirms two projectile incidents on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on August 1, one resulting in engine-room damage and loss of propulsion on an LNG carrier.

• President Trump states he agreed to cancel a planned attack subject to rapidly making a deal that would open the Strait of Hormuz.

• Mehr news agency (state-affiliated) states the claim that Iran asked for a hold-off “was nothing but a new lie.”

• U.S. Central Command reports 35 commercial vessels redirected, 2 disabled, and 2 boarded as of August 2.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Statement on Oman Negotiations

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages.

No additional detail on the content or timeline of the negotiations appeared in the available official releases.

Confirmed Projectile Incidents in the Strait of Hormuz

The Joint Maritime Information Center Update 079 listed two confirmed maritime security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on August 1.

An LNG carrier, name withheld, was struck by an unknown projectile at 11:30 p.m. UTC on July 31 while transiting outbound, 11 nautical miles north-east of Lima, Oman.

The projectile struck the port-side engine room, causing a fire that was extinguished. The vessel lost propulsion. Omani Coast Guard provided assistance. No environmental impact was reported. UKMTO 101-26.

A tanker, name withheld, reported at 10:06 p.m. UTC on July 31 that the crew witnessed an unidentified projectile land in the water 5 meters from the vessel, 21 nautical miles north-east of Khasab, Oman. The crew heard an explosion and saw flames on the water. The vessel was not struck. UKMTO 102-26.

Presidential Decision to Hold Off Strikes

President Trump stated in a Truth Social post late on August 1 that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked the United States to hold off any attack because the perimeters of a deal had been agreed to.

He stated he agreed to cancel the attack subject to being able to rapidly make a deal, and that the U.S. military remained locked and loaded.

The post specified that the deal would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

Mehr news agency (state-affiliated) stated on August 2 that the allegation Iran had asked the United States to refrain from new strikes “was nothing but a new lie” and that the Iranian armed forces were “on high alert and ready for any eventuality.”

U.S. Maritime Interdiction Activity

U.S. Central Command stated that as of August 2 its forces had redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2 in support of the blockade against Iran, as single-sourced by CENTCOM.

Official Statements

• Iranian Foreign Ministry, August 3: “Our negotiations with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages.”

• President Donald Trump, Truth Social, August 1: “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.” “Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.”

• Mehr news agency, August 2: “was nothing but a new lie” and the Iranian armed forces were “on high alert and ready for any eventuality.”

• U.S. Central Command, August 2: “As of Aug. 2, CENTCOM has redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2.”