Iran and Oman edged closer Friday to an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, even as the US continued to tighten sanctions on Tehran by targeting financial networks used to move Iranian oil revenues.
On Friday, Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iran and Oman have reached broad consensus on the agreement's framework, although senior officials in both countries must still grant final approval, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency.
Ghashghavi reportedly said Iran is awaiting the final agreement and a joint statement that will clarify many of the general guidelines.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to' request for comment.
Meanwhile, the US continued its maximum-pressure campaign against Iran after the Department of State said Friday the Treasury Department dismantled a network of currency exchange houses and shell companies that helped Tehran access oil revenue and move hundreds of millions of US dollars through the international financial system while evading sanctions.
The State Department said the network used front companies to launder funds and that the action targeted banks, exchange houses and individual facilitators involved in helping Iran evade sanctions.
The move marks the eighth US action in 2026 targeting Iran's shadow banking apparatus, which Washington said also includes major financiers and Iranian importers and exporters that rely on such networks to launder and repatriate revenues.
The State Department said the measures aim to cut off resources used to fund Iran's military activities, regional operations and support for terrorism, while warning those assisting sanctions evasion will face serious consequences.
US President Donald Trump said during a White House event on Thursday that negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are progressing and a deal could come soon, adding, "I'm involved in the negotiation," although he stopped short of confirming an agreement has been reached.
Trump said the US Navy continues to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while warning that mines or other attacks could still disrupt vessel traffic because shipowners remain reluctant to risk high-value vessels despite the security presence.
Separately, UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on Friday said missile and drone attacks have struck 15 of its vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, including three this week, killing a crew member and injuring 20 others.
The Gulf Cooperation Council on Friday condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's Najran region that injured several civilians, calling the strikes a serious violation of international law and international humanitarian law.