Qatar Reports Progress on Ending the War as Hormuz Talks Advance

Qatari mediators said progress had been made in efforts to end the war between the United States and Iran, Reuters reported Tuesday, August 4. Iran and Oman were reported to be close to an arrangement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz with inbound ships using a channel controlled by Iran and outbound ships one controlled by Oman, with a service fee split between them, according to Iranian officials cited by Democracy Now; the United States had not agreed to any such plan. Separately, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, the Minoan Pioneer, was reported missing after being struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman, Seatrade Maritime News and Al Arabiya reported.