Iran has said it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, which could see the waterway reopened for commercial shipping. The statement comes after US President Donald Trump said a deal could be announced this week.
Background of the conflict
The critical waterway has been a contentious issue in the US-Iran war. The US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28, and Iran retaliated by striking sites across the Middle East and closing the strait.
But the agreement is likely to be contingent on the US lifting its blockade on Iran's ports. The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal that would cement Iran's grip over the strait, which would amount to a major loss for the US and a break with global norms.
Iran's insistence on control
Iran has insisted on some measure of control over the strait, saying it will not go back to being an open international waterway, as it was before the war.
The ability for the US to continue the conflict has been thrown into the spotlight after reports that tensions rose between the president and his head of war over American levels of munition.
Tensions over munitions
A furious Mr Trump reportedly demanded answers from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over extreme munitions shortages, according to the Washington Post.
The paper reports that an exchange at the Camp David summit over the weekend underscored the president's "increasing frustration with Mr Hegseth," who was one of the biggest early advocates for taking military action against Iran.
Mr Trump is said to have "demanded answers" from Mr Hegseth on why he had apparently been misled on extreme munitions shortages that now threaten to limit military options with Iran, two people familiar with the exchange told The Washington Post.
White House denies report
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has hit back at the report, claiming the exchange did not take place and branding it "fake news".
She said in a post on X: "I was at Camp David with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.
"This literally never happened, and we told the Washington Post that repeatedly.
"This B.S. story was shopped to many outlets by someone clearly out to disparage the Secretary, for whatever reason.
"Unfortunately for them, the President loves the Secretary and thinks he's doing a tremendous job.
"FAKE NEWS!"
