Kathmandu— Mediators are attempting to reactivate a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli media reported on Sunday. The diplomatic push comes after President Donald Trump stood down a major military strike against Iran, stating that Tehran had agreed to open the critical maritime corridor for 60 days without levying fees.

Diplomatic Efforts Intensify

Qatar engaged in intensive diplomatic discussions with Iran, the United States, and Oman over the weekend to avert military action. Qatari officials informed Trump on Saturday that additional time was required to finalize a resolution with Tehran before subsequently communicating that Iran had accepted a proposal to open the strait.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a telephone conversation with Trump to urge against military action, successfully influencing the US decision.

Conflicting Claims and Rejections

Iranian state media indicated that discussions between Iran and Oman regarding a joint operational mechanism to govern the shipping passage were in their final stages. However, no agreement has been reached on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a source connected to Iran's negotiating delegation who spoke with the semi-official Fars News Agency.

Iranian military leaders rejected Trump's assertions as a 'lie,' while Tehran subsequently denied claims regarding the waterway.

Gulf Divisions Emerge

The Wall Street Journal reported that while Saudi Arabia urged restraint, the United Arab Emirates lobbied Washington to pursue more assertive military measures. Citing senior Gulf officials aware of the deliberations, the report stated that the UAE argued the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not modify its stance without US military escalation.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.