Iran Nears Strait of Hormuz Agreement With Oman as Israeli Troops Face Casualties in Lebanon

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced Wednesday that negotiations with Oman over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz have reached an advanced phase. Baghaei indicated a joint statement could materialize imminently, provided that unspecified external parties—an apparent reference to the United States—refrain from interference in the process.

The proposed accord appears contingent on Washington lifting its economic restrictions on Iranian ports. The waterway remains essential to global commerce, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s petroleum and liquefied natural gas flowing through this critical chokepoint before the February escalation of regional hostilities between U.S., Israeli, and Iranian forces.

Two Israeli soldiers died Thursday following an explosion in southern Lebanon, marking the first military casualties since a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-aligned Hezbollah took effect in June. Four additional troops sustained severe injuries in the incident, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.

Israel conducted retaliatory airstrikes Wednesday in southern Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of breaching the truce terms. The military also issued evacuation orders for another Lebanese village—a first such directive in recent weeks—as negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials proceeded simultaneously in Rome to address ceasefire implementation details and Israeli withdrawal timelines.

Sudan’s ancient Meroe pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing more than 200 royal tombs built between 800 B.C. and 350 A.D., face accelerating deterioration due to the nation’s ongoing conflict that began in April 2023. Archaeologist Mahmoud Suleiman cautioned that structural collapses remain possible at the site, located roughly 125 miles north of Khartoum, as conservation work has completely ceased amid the violence.