U.S. and Iran Reach Preliminary Deal to End Conflict, Negotiations to Resume

The United States and Iran signed a preliminary deal last week to end the conflict that began February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iranian targets. The agreement sets a 60-day period during which commercial ships may transit the Strait of Hormuz without charge. It also opens negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, and energy flows.

Hormuz Transit Rules U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Washington would not accept any arrangement allowing Iran to impose fees in the strait. He described such fees as a threat to global stability. Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, meeting with Rubio in Bahrain, issued a joint statement calling for free and unrestricted navigation through the waterway.

Oman released a map Wednesday of a new temporary shipping route near its coast, coordinated with the International Maritime Organisation. The British maritime security agency UKMTO reported Thursday that a cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile 7.5 nautical miles off Oman's coast, causing bridge damage but no casualties.

Iran has said it will not relinquish control of the strait and described the initial deal as a declaration of America's defeat. The Revolutionary Guards warned that unauthorized crossings would be dealt with. President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that the United States was doing great in the negotiations and requested nearly $88 billion in supplemental funding, mostly to cover war costs.

Pakistan is serving as mediator. Technical talks between the two sides are expected to resume in the coming days after an initial round held in Switzerland. >"We want to ensure...