Kathmandu— The United States is working to establish a safe shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the flow of oil and gas while continuing to exert pressure on Iran. US Vice President JD Vance stated on Saturday that while Washington is in discussions with Tehran to maximize energy exports from the region, the administration maintains a lack of trust in Iranian commitments. This effort comes as negotiations continue between Iran and Oman to regulate traffic through the strategic waterway following a five-month-old conflict that has disrupted oil exports.

Diplomatic Efforts and Energy Security

Vice President JD Vance said the US is attempting to maximize the volume of oil and gas exiting the Strait of Hormuz to help lower energy prices for Americans. He noted that while Tehran has informed Washington it would allow maximum oil flow, the US remains skeptical of these assurances. "We don't trust it," Vance said during an interview on Fox News.

In a separate development, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that ongoing negotiations with Oman regarding a temporary shipping route do not equate to a full reopening of the strategic waterway. Araghchi noted that while parties are close to a final result, the reopening remains subject to additional conditions and compensation for alleged violations of a previous memorandum of understanding by the United States.

Negotiations and Regional Stability

The current diplomatic focus involves establishing a provisional shipping route that could eventually serve as the foundation for a permanent arrangement. Araghchi indicated that discussions have already taken place between the military and naval forces of the involved nations. He noted that traffic had previously reached 60 percent of normal conditions within two weeks before the US sought to establish new routes despite warnings from Tehran.

US officials have indicated that progress is being made in talks between Iran and Oman. An anonymous US official told Reuters that an agreement could be reached soon, which would allow standard commercial oil shipments to resume. The official emphasized that US actions will remain performance-based and tied to Iran's implementation of its commitments, noting that the US would lift the blockade of Iranian ports once a deal to restore shipping without impediments is announced.

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the conflict involving Iran will end soon, while reaffirming the commitment to prevent the nation from possessing a nuclear weapon.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.