Amid Trump's Iran Threats, Secret Diplomacy Races to Avert New Middle East War
Amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, the United States and Iran continue to engage in diplomatic efforts through regional mediators, including Oman and Qatar. , World News, Times Now
World NewsAuthored by:Samannay BiswasUpdated Jul 11, 2026, 23:48 ISTAmid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, the United States and Iran continue to engage in diplomatic efforts through regional mediators, including Oman and Qatar. The renewed tensions follow clashes earlier this week, prompting US President Donald Trump to declare the previous ceasefire "over" while leaving open the possibility of further negotiations. Photo :APEven as the United States and Iran exchange fresh threats over the Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic channels remain active through regional mediators, offering hope that a broader military escalation can still be avoided. For negotiations on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman, while Qatari officials also stayed busy attempting to ease tensions. This is part of the diplomatic race that took place after the two nations exchanged accusations over incidents that have recently taken place in the important navigational channel characterizing global energy shipments. The tensions arise from conflicts that took place recently, which led to the announcement of the end of the previous ceasefire by DonaldTrump, while also leaving the door open to negotiations. Trump stated that Iran had put him on its 'kill list', claiming that the United States would respond forcefully in case of any threats against the country. Meanwhile, Iran has maintained that any future negotiations must respect its interpretation of the memorandum of understanding reached last month. Tehran insists that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz should operate under coordination with Iranian authorities and has rejected what it describes as foreign interference in the management of the waterway. Iran has justified the need for its newly formed navigation authority by citing the necessity of controlling shipping traffic in the Strait. The International Maritime Organization, on the other hand, has rejected Iran's actions and insisted its members ignore Iranian claims over the waterway. In the meantime, Washington has imposed sanctions against several Iranians and Iranian entities because of increased attacks on a commercial shipping sector. Although there are threats from both sides, analysts believe both governments remain interested in preventing another prolonged conflict. Experts say military pressure and diplomatic engagement are unfolding in parallel, with neither side appearing ready to completely abandon negotiations. Samannay BiswasauthorWorking as Copy Editor at the Business Desk of Times Now Digital. Dedicated towards crafting interesting financial stories. Previously covered financi. . . View MoreNewsWorld NewsEnd of Article