US hopes for Strait of Hormuz deal as cargo ship hit
A top US official expressed hope on Tuesday that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be finalized "today or tomorrow," following another incident where a cargo ship was struck in the vital waterway. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated a potential agreement in the coming hours, a day after President Donald Trump suggested the strait might reopen. Speaking from the White House, President Trump combined optimism about diplomacy with threats, stating this was Iran鈥檚 "last chance before decapitation." The US and Iran have been in conflict since February 28, with the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial conduit for global oil and gas, repeatedly sparking renewed fighting. Iran seeks to control and levy tolls on the strait, a stance the US opposes. President Trump had previously threatened severe action against Iran but later indicated that the "perimeters" of a deal were in place. He also mentioned continuing talks with Iran at the request of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other nations. However, Iran鈥檚 foreign ministry denied ongoing negotiations with Washington, despite President Trump's insistence. Qatar, mediating the talks, confirmed diplomatic efforts but no direct Iran-US discussions were scheduled. President Trump stated he expected an update on the talks by Tuesday, emphasizing the focus on reopening Hormuz and denuclearizing Iran. He also accused Tehran of being "duplicitous" for denying negotiations, asserting that "Nothing gets through to Ir