Iranian officials have privately informed advisers to US President Donald Trump that recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were a mistake, according to CBS News, citing American officials. The attacks, which the US views as a violation of the ceasefire, stemmed from a specific faction within Iran seeking to undermine US-Iran negotiations.
White House Demands Public Acknowledgment
CBS News reported that the White House wants Iran to publicly acknowledge the error. The Trump administration considers the attacks a breach of the existing ceasefire. Despite this, President Trump has directed the US negotiating team—led by Vice President JD Vance, Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff—to proceed with talks in Muscat, Oman, which began on Saturday.
"They came back to the table and said, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking,'" a US official told CBS News.
Oman Talks and Maritime Security
Following Saturday's meeting in Oman, the administration expects Iran to maintain that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and managed as it was before the conflict. Qatari negotiators are also traveling to Iran to ease tensions and create conditions for resuming talks after recent military escalations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi met his Omani counterpart, Seyyed Badr Al-Busaidi, in Muscat on Saturday. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, regional developments, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. On his Telegram channel, Araqchi stated that the two diplomats discussed bilateral relations and broader regional issues.
According to Iran's Foreign Ministry, the sides also discussed mechanisms to ensure safe passage of ships under Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Oman reiterated its support for diplomacy to ease regional tensions.
US Position on Ceasefire
President Trump said on Friday that Washington agreed to continue talks after Tehran's request, but reiterated that the US still considers the previous ceasefire "over." The developments signal a complex path forward as both sides navigate internal pressures and diplomatic channels.
