US sees Hormuz deal near as Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan sign defense pact

A senior US official said on Friday that progress is being made between Iran and Oman toward an agreement that could restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington expects a deal soon and would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once the agreement is announced and implemented.

The strait has been a flashpoint since the US-led war with Iran began in late February. Before the conflict, roughly one in five barrels of oil consumed worldwide passed through the waterway. Iran has since imposed tolls on tankers and fired on vessels attempting to cross without permission, disrupting shipments and contributing to a surge in energy prices and inflation.

The official cautioned that US actions would remain performance-based, tied to Iran's implementation of its commitments. Previous signals of a breakthrough have faded, with Tehran denying talks were underway. The latest round of negotiations comes amid continued attacks by Iran's Houthi allies on shipping near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, another critical oil chokepoint.

In a separate development, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca on Friday. The pact, among three majority-Sunni US allies, states that an armed attack on any one of them would be considered an attack on all. Turkey described the agreement as purely defensive and not aimed at any specific country, though it comes amid heightened tensions with Shi'ite-majority Iran.

Separately, a Lebanese official said Lebanon and Israel have agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah under a US-brokered arrangement. The United States would select from that list.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, facing domestic criticism over negotiations, defended his government's diplomatic approach in a state television interview broadcast Friday. He argued that dialogue is preferable to continued conflict, noting that most senior military commanders support talks to end the fighting. He also pointed to China's rise as a strategic challenge for Washington, questioning why the US focuses on Iran instead.