Reopening Hormuz Unrelated to Oman Talks, Iran Says, After UAE Vessel Hit

Here are Saturday’s latest updates:

■ The United States is signaling progress toward a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with a U.S. official telling Reuters that Washington expects a deal between Iran and Oman soon. The official said the United States would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once commercial shipping through the strait resumes without impediments. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, however, said reopening the strait depends on Washington accepting Iran’s conditions and is unrelated to talks between Iran and Oman.

■ Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement, under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three. Former U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill told CNN that the pact signals growing doubts among U.S. allies about Washington’s security guarantees.

■ Lebanon and Israel agreed on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify Hezbollah’s disarmament under a U.S.-brokered agreement, a Lebanese official told Reuters. The United States is expected to select countries from the list. The talks are part of an agreement linking Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Lebanon to Hezbollah’s disarmament.

■ Israeli reservations have delayed a planned Cairo meeting between Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Turkeyon implementing the Gaza cease-fire agreement, a Palestinian source familiar with the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat. The source said Israeli objections focused particularly on withdrawal arrangements. “Everyone is waiting for the American move and to see what they can do about this, especially in terms of putting pressure on Israel,” the source said. A Hamas delegation remains in Egypt.

■ Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine has privately warned senior Trump administration officials that the United States needs a way to wind down its war with Iran, CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. Caine warned that further escalation could backfire and that airpower alone was unlikely to achieve Trump’s objectives, according to the report.

■ A Palestinian man was wounded after Israeli settlers opened fire in the West Bank village of Abu Njeim, southeast of Bethlehem, according to the Palestine News Agency. The report said settlers also attacked an ambulance that arrived to treat the wounded man, smashing its windows and spraying pepper spray at medical workers. Palestinian media also reported that settlers attacked Beit Dajan, east of Nablus, wounding three residents.

■ A vessel operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was targeted by a missile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday, the company said. No injuries were reported, and the situation was under control, according to ADNOC.

■ The IDF said a suspected infiltration into the West Bank settlement of Ofarim had been cleared after security forces chased a suspected vehicle that entered the community. The suspect was apprehended and transferred to police, the IDF said, adding that “there is no suspicion of a security incident.”

■ The IDF was sweeping the area of Kibbutz Zikim near the Gaza border after a gap was found in its fence. No suspects were found, and an examination of surveillance footage indicated that it was unlikely anyone had crossed from Gaza into Israeli territory.