Al Hammami was the co-pilot aboard the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight when the captain was attacked and the aircraft entered a steep descent before passengers and crew intervened. The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot before he was transferred to the United Arab Emirates.

His identity has been reported by ABC News, CNN and other outlets citing people familiar with the investigation, while Saudi state media and an Israeli official have also identified him.

The UAE has not publicly announced a final finding about his motives or formally characterized the incident as terrorism.

What is established about his aviation background

Al Hammami’s reported professional history includes Oman Air, a period of training with Royal Air Maroc and later employment with flydubai.

According to senior intelligence and law-enforcement officials cited by ABC News, Al Hammami was a co-pilot trainee at Oman Air in 2024 when he was identified as a security risk and found in possession of extremist material. The sources said he was subsequently suspended from flying duties but continued working for the airline in an administrative role.

That account has not been publicly confirmed in a detailed statement by Oman Air. ABC News said its inquiries to relevant parties were continuing, and the UAE has urged the public to rely on official information while its investigation proceeds.

The distinction is important: the reported previous security concern is evidence of an earlier personnel decision attributed to sources familiar with the matter. It is not, by itself, an official finding about the motive for the FZ1073 incident.

His reported connection to Royal Air Maroc

Al Hammami’s career also included a period associated with Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc.

Moroccan publication Le Desk reported that Al Hammami had presented himself professionally as a pilot with Royal Air Maroc and that its reporting was based partly on an authenticated LinkedIn profile that has since been deleted.

Royal Air Maroc, however, told Le Desk that Al Hammami underwent three months of theoretical training with the company and did not fly operationally for the airline.

That distinction means his association with Royal Air Maroc should not be described as previous service as an operational Royal Air Maroc pilot.

Le Desk reported that the LinkedIn profile listed employment at Oman Air from February 2018 to February 2025, followed by Royal Air Maroc from June 2025 to January 2026. The profile has since been removed.

The employment dates are therefore based on a deleted profile and reporting that authenticated it, rather than publicly released employment records.

Education in aviation management

A man named Hamam Al Hammami also completed an aviation-management degree through Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom.

A university source confirmed to ABC News that Al Hammami completed a three-year distance-learning program and graduated in 2023. The university source also clarified that the program was in aviation management and did not constitute pilot training.

The publicly accessible professional profile associated with the name likewise listed Buckinghamshire New University among his education history.

This provides corroboration for the educational background, but the university’s confirmation does not establish anything about the alleged cockpit attack or its motive.

Questions over how he reached the flydubai cockpit

The reported Oman Air history has raised questions about how Al Hammami subsequently obtained employment that allowed him to operate commercially for flydubai.

Those questions are particularly relevant because the UAE investigation is examining not only the immediate circumstances of the incident but also the suspect’s background and possible prior planning.

The UAE Attorney-General ordered a specialized Public Prosecution investigation after the flight landed in Saudi Arabia. The investigation is examining the circumstances and motives surrounding the incident and whether it involved terrorist activity, prior planning or outside direction.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has specifically warned against speculation and unverified information while the investigation remains open.

It has not publicly established whether any previous employer or authority communicated security concerns about Al Hammami to flydubai, nor has it released a finding about whether such information existed in a form that should have affected his later employment.

Social-media material remains disputed

Investigators and journalists have also examined social-media accounts associated with Al Hammami.

CNN reported that accounts bearing his name contained material that included extremist imagery and cockpit-related videos. However, CNN also reported uncertainty over who published some of the material and whether certain posts had been scheduled in advance.

That uncertainty makes the social-media material different from an authenticated government record or court finding.

Journos News therefore does not treat the contents of deleted or disputed social-media accounts as proof of Al Hammami’s motive, ideology or responsibility for the attack beyond what investigators formally establish.

What investigators have and have not established

The immediate sequence aboard FZ1073 is supported by official and aviation authorities: flydubai confirmed an incident in the flight deck, the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, and Saudi authorities subsequently reported that the captain had been assaulted by his co-pilot.

The UAE investigation remains broader.

The Attorney-General has directed investigators to establish the facts, circumstances and motives and to determine whether the incident had any connection to terrorist activity or involved prior planning or direction.

The General Civil Aviation Authority said on Oct. 2 that Captain Smit Machchhar had returned safely to the UAE and was in good condition. It also said investigators were continuing their work and declined to comment on claims that could pre-empt the investigation.

Consequently, Al Hammami’s reported previous security concerns should not be presented as proof that the FZ1073 incident was a terrorist attack.

Similarly, statements by political officials about alleged radicalization remain separate from the formal findings of the UAE investigation.

The aviation-security question

The central unanswered question is not simply who Al Hammami is, but how his reported professional history intersects with the security systems that allowed him to become a commercial co-pilot.

If the reported Oman Air security concerns are confirmed by investigators, authorities will need to establish what information existed, which institutions had access to it, whether it was shared, and what screening procedures were applied when Al Hammami later obtained aviation employment.

Those questions cannot yet be answered conclusively from the public record.

For now, the documented picture is of an Omani national identified as Hamam Al Hammami, a former aviation trainee at Oman Air who was reportedly removed from flight duties after security concerns, later associated with Royal Air Maroc for theoretical training, educated in aviation management and eventually employed by flydubai.

The UAE investigation will determine whether those elements of his background are relevant to the motive, planning or circumstances of the FZ1073 incident.

Reporting Credit: UAE Attorney-General / UAE Public Prosecution; UAE General Civil Aviation Authority; flydubai; Royal Air Maroc; Buckinghamshire New University; Saudi authorities; Oman Air-related information reported by senior intelligence and law-enforcement sources; court and investigative records when released.

The post appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The Boeing 737 was carrying 174 people when the incident occurred during the flight toward Israel. The injured captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was able to fight back and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The suspected attacker was arrested and questioned by Saudi authorities, according to Netanyahu.

Netanyahu says motive is still unknown

Netanyahu said it was too early to determine why the co-pilot attacked the captain.

In an interview with CBS News, Netanyahu said he did not believe the incident could yet be definitively classified as a hijacking. He also said investigators would examine whether the episode was an attempted suicide, terrorism or something else.

Netanyahu said Israel would seek to determine the suspect’s background and motive as part of the investigation. Israeli officials have indicated that the suspect is an Omani national and that Saudi authorities are currently questioning him.

No official motive has been established.

Flydubai has also urged against premature conclusions, saying the underlying reasons and motives for the incident remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation.

Captain fought back as aircraft plunged

According to Netanyahu’s account, the co-pilot attacked the captain as the aircraft approached Israel.

The plane subsequently entered a steep descent. Reuters reported that the aircraft dropped nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the situation was brought under control. Other reporting based on flight data described a larger overall altitude loss during the emergency.

Machchhar was able to resist the attack and open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew members then entered the cockpit and helped subdue the attacker.

Other pilots who were aboard the aircraft subsequently helped stabilize and land the plane at Tabuk, according to Israeli officials and reporting from the incident.

Netanyahu praised Machchhar and the passengers and crew who intervened, describing their actions as preventing a potentially catastrophic outcome.

Passengers reach Israel safely

After the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the passengers and crew remained safe while replacement aircraft were arranged to complete their journey.

Passengers later arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on replacement Flydubai aircraft.

Flydubai said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for and temporarily suspended flights between Dubai and Israel while authorities investigate the incident.

Suspect’s background under investigation

The suspected attacker has been identified by officials as an Omani national. His name has not been publicly released.

Netanyahu said the suspect was being interrogated in Saudi Arabia and that Israeli authorities would participate in efforts to establish what happened.

The investigation has not publicly established whether the attack was politically motivated, terrorism-related, a personal act or connected to another motive.

Some Israeli officials have described the incident as a possible terrorist attack, but those characterizations have not established a confirmed motive. Flydubai has specifically called for authorities to establish the facts before conclusions are drawn.

Israel increases aviation security

The incident has prompted Israel to review security procedures involving pilots flying into the country.

Netanyahu instructed Israeli security authorities to increase checks on pilots operating flights to Israel, including pilots employed by foreign airlines.

The review comes as questions are being raised about pilot screening and aviation-security procedures for international carriers operating in the region.

Flydubai’s temporary suspension of Israel flights will remain in place while the investigation continues.

Investigation remains open

The confirmed sequence is that a Flydubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a cockpit attack involving its pilots, entered a dangerous descent, was stabilized after passengers and crew intervened, and made an emergency landing in Tabuk.

The captain survived the attack, the suspected assailant was arrested, and passengers were later taken safely to Israel.

What remains unresolved is why the attack happened and what the attacker intended to achieve.

Netanyahu has said investigators will seek to establish the motive and the suspect’s background. Until that investigation produces further findings, the motive remains unconfirmed.

Reporting Credit: Israeli Prime Minister’s Office; Flydubai; Israeli government and aviation-security authorities; Saudi authorities as reported in official statements and verified news coverage.

The post Netanyahu Says Motive Unclear in Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight Attack appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The latest diplomatic movement around the Strait of Hormuz offers one of the clearest indications yet that the conflict involving Iran and the United States could be entering a new phase. But it also exposes how difficult it may be to turn a political understanding into a functioning ceasefire and a reliable commercial corridor.

A U.S. official told Reuters on August 7 that progress was being made between Iran and Oman and that Washington expected a deal soon. The official said the United States would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once an agreement was announced to restore commercial shipping through the strait without impediments, while stressing that U.S. actions would remain conditional on Iran implementing its commitments.

That condition is important. The central question is no longer simply whether diplomats can agree to stop fighting. It is whether they can establish practical rules that allow merchant ships to move through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways without creating new legal, financial or security risks.

For now, the answer remains unclear.

The latest diplomatic opening

The emerging arrangement is being negotiated primarily between Iran and Oman, which share territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has played a central diplomatic role in efforts to reduce regional tensions and establish a framework for maritime navigation.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry said in June that the two countries were committed to safe passage through the strait while also emphasizing their sovereignty and sovereign rights over their respective territorial waters. The two governments agreed to continue discussions through a joint working group concerning the future administration of navigation, services provided to shipping and associated costs. They also said other regional states and relevant parties should be involved in discussions.

That earlier understanding provides important context for the negotiations now approaching a possible agreement.

Oman has consistently presented the issue as one requiring both maritime security and diplomacy. In July, the Omani Foreign Ministry said it was cooperating with all parties to restore freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The latest talks therefore build on a process that has been developing for months rather than appearing suddenly.

But the proposed arrangements have become more contentious as negotiators try to determine who controls traffic, what routes vessels will use and whether ships would be required to pay charges.

Why the Strait of Hormuz is the immediate test

The significance of the negotiations can be seen in the behavior of shipping companies.

Rather than returning to normal while diplomats negotiate, commercial traffic through the strait has declined.

Reuters reported that only 33 vessels passed through Hormuz from Monday through Thursday this week, compared with 50 during the same period the previous week. Just four vessels transited on Thursday. Six crude oil tankers exited the strait during the week while 21 entered, with many of those movements taking place through Iranian waters.

That is a crucial measure of the gap between diplomatic progress and operational reality.

A government can announce that a waterway is open. A shipping company must still decide whether its vessel can safely enter it, whether the voyage will be insured, whether payments associated with the transit are lawful and whether the vessel will be treated consistently by military and maritime authorities.

Those decisions determine whether the waterway is genuinely functioning.

Before the conflict, Hormuz was a heavily used international maritime route carrying oil and other essential commodities. Reuters reported that roughly 130 to 140 vessels a week had transited the waterway before the conflict disrupted traffic.

The current figures therefore indicate that even a diplomatic breakthrough would begin from a severely disrupted baseline.

The dispute over control

At the center of the negotiations is a difficult question: who ultimately controls the movement of ships through the strait?

Reuters reported that a proposed arrangement would give Iran the ability to intervene when necessary with inbound traffic, while outbound vessels would use a route between Iranian and Omani waters and obtain exit clearance through Oman after notifying Iran.

That proposal has major implications for commercial shipping.

The issue is not simply geographic. It concerns predictability.

For international shipping companies, a workable maritime corridor requires rules that can be understood in advance. Operators need to know which authority controls a particular route, what documentation is required, whether a vessel can be delayed or refused passage and what legal protections apply when a ship complies with established procedures.

Any arrangement that creates uncertainty over those questions could leave companies reluctant to use the route even if governments describe it as open.

The United States has also made clear that it does not view an Iranian-controlled system as an acceptable endpoint. U.S. officials have said the objective is commercial shipping through Hormuz without impediments, while Washington has linked its own actions to Iran’s implementation of commitments under any agreement.

That leaves negotiators trying to reconcile competing priorities: Iran’s demand for recognition of its authority and interests in waters under its sovereignty, Oman’s role as another coastal state, Washington’s insistence on unrestricted commercial access, and the shipping industry’s need for predictable rules.

The unresolved question of transit fees

Money has become another major obstacle.

Reuters reported that Iran is seeking fees equivalent to between 5% and 7% of cargo value from ships using the strait, while Oman has been discussing a figure of around 3%. The United States, by contrast, wants no such fees.

The dispute is significant because the proposed charges would introduce a new financial consideration into commercial voyages through a waterway that had previously operated without comparable compulsory transit fees.

International shipping associations have warned that compulsory charges could undermine the legal and commercial principles governing navigation through international straits. Reuters reported that industry groups described the ability of merchant ships to navigate safely, predictably and without unnecessary impediment as fundamental to resilient supply chains, economic stability and energy security.

For shipping companies, the problem becomes even more complicated when sanctions and insurance are considered.

Reuters reported that U.S. sanctions against an Iranian-established maritime authority could create legal exposure for companies making payments connected to the proposed system. The Lloyd’s Market Association has also introduced insurance clauses affecting vessels that make certain payments.

This creates a practical contradiction.

A government could establish a payment requirement as part of a maritime agreement, but a shipping company could then face sanctions or insurance consequences for complying with it.

Until that problem is resolved, an announced agreement could remain difficult to implement.

Why a ceasefire is not the same as a reopened waterway

The situation illustrates an important distinction in the broader ceasefire process.

A ceasefire can reduce military activity without immediately restoring normal economic activity.

The Strait of Hormuz requires something more complicated: a functioning security arrangement, clear navigation procedures, agreement between coastal states, acceptance by external military powers and rules that commercial operators can legally and financially follow.

The history of the negotiations already demonstrates this distinction.

In June, Oman and Iran publicly reaffirmed their commitment to safe passage and agreed to continue discussions over navigation administration and related services. In July, Omani and Iranian officials continued technical and political discussions over maritime navigation.

Those discussions have now moved toward a possible operational arrangement.

Yet the latest shipping data show that the maritime environment remains unsettled. Traffic has declined even as diplomatic expectations have increased.

That disconnect is one of the clearest reasons not to treat an expected agreement as equivalent to a completed reopening.

The shipping industry’s problem is different from the diplomats’ problem

Governments negotiate political arrangements. Shipowners manage operational risk.

That distinction matters.

A government may calculate that an agreement reduces the probability of a major confrontation. A shipping company has to calculate whether a particular vessel, crew and cargo can safely complete a particular voyage.

The decision can depend on war-risk insurance, sanctions exposure, crew safety, routing instructions, port availability, cargo contracts and the possibility of military incidents.

Reuters reported that some shipping industry sources consider the proposed Hormuz arrangement difficult to implement because of these legal and financial complications.

That helps explain why shipping traffic has not immediately recovered in response to diplomatic developments.

The market is waiting for operational certainty.

Oil prices have also reflected that uncertainty. Reuters reported that Brent crude rose more than $1 on August 7, settling at $83.55 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 89 cents to $78.18. The movement reflected uncertainty surrounding the negotiations and questions over which vessels would ultimately be allowed to transit.

The market response is therefore another indicator of unresolved risk rather than a definitive judgment about the success or failure of diplomacy.

What a genuine reopening would look like

The most useful way to assess the next stage of the crisis may be to look beyond diplomatic statements and watch what happens to the ships.

A genuine reopening would likely become visible through sustained changes in commercial behavior.

Vessel traffic would need to increase consistently rather than through isolated transits. Tankers would need to resume normal scheduling. Shipowners and charterers would need sufficient confidence to book voyages through the strait. Insurance arrangements would need to support those voyages. Sanctions-related questions would need clear answers.

The route would also need rules that are sufficiently predictable for commercial operators to incorporate them into ordinary voyage planning.

In other words, reopening Hormuz is not a single event.

It is a process.

The first stage is political agreement. The second is operational implementation. The third is commercial confidence. Only after all three occur could traffic begin approaching a more normal pattern.

That distinction is particularly important because the latest traffic figures remain far below the levels reported before the conflict.

The broader economic consequences

The Strait of Hormuz is important because disruptions there do not remain confined to the Gulf.

The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean shipping system. Its disruption affects the movement of energy and other commodities, while uncertainty can raise shipping and insurance costs even for cargoes that eventually reach their destinations.

Reuters reported that Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO has been offering discounts of as much as $30 a barrel on some August Basrah crude cargoes as it seeks buyers amid the disruption. Chinese and Indian refiners have shown interest, but shipping companies have remained cautious about committing vessels because of security concerns.

That illustrates how a maritime security crisis can affect the price received by producers as well as the cost paid by consumers.

The longer the disruption continues, the greater the pressure on inventories, alternative transportation routes and energy markets.

But a diplomatic agreement could reverse some of that pressure if commercial operators become confident that the route is genuinely secure and legally workable.

The speed of any recovery, however, is likely to depend on the details of the final arrangement rather than simply the announcement itself.

Oman is central to the next phase

Oman’s role is particularly important because it is both a neighboring state and one of the two coastal countries whose territorial waters include parts of the Strait of Hormuz.

Muscat has repeatedly emphasized that its approach is based on diplomacy, international law and maritime safety.

In June, Oman and Iran said they would work through a joint mechanism to address the future administration of navigation and associated services. In July, Oman reiterated its commitment to restoring freedom of navigation while maintaining its obligations under international maritime law.

That gives Oman a potentially difficult balancing role.

It must work with Iran while also addressing the interests of other Gulf states, international shipping companies and external powers whose naval forces operate in the region.

An arrangement that satisfies one party but creates unacceptable uncertainty for others may not be durable.

Oman’s diplomatic position therefore points toward the central challenge ahead: creating a maritime framework that is not simply acceptable politically, but workable internationally.

What remains unresolved

Despite the recent progress, several major questions remain unanswered.

First, there is no final publicly established framework that demonstrates the waterway has returned to unrestricted commercial navigation.

Second, the precise division of authority between Iran and Oman remains a central issue.

Third, the proposed fee structure remains disputed.

Fourth, sanctions and insurance restrictions could prevent commercial operators from implementing parts of an agreement even if governments approve them.

Fifth, the United States has tied its own measures to Iran’s implementation of commitments, meaning that the process remains conditional rather than automatic.

And finally, the security environment itself remains uncertain.

An agreement governing navigation cannot by itself guarantee that every vessel will consider the waterway safe. Commercial operators will ultimately make their own risk assessments based on military activity, insurance coverage and the behavior of the parties.

The next measure of the ceasefire will be commercial traffic

The diplomatic developments around Iran and Oman offer a potential path away from the most disruptive phase of the conflict. But the Strait of Hormuz shows why the path from ceasefire to stability is rarely straightforward.

The negotiations are attempting to solve several problems at once: military de-escalation, maritime security, sovereignty, navigation rights, sanctions, insurance and the economic interests of the shipping industry.

A political agreement could address some of those issues.

It will not automatically resolve all of them.

The most important evidence in the coming days will therefore be practical. If ships begin moving through Hormuz in larger and more consistent numbers, if insurance and sanctions concerns ease, and if the parties maintain predictable rules for commercial navigation, that would provide stronger evidence that diplomacy is translating into a functioning ceasefire environment.

Until then, the Strait remains a measure of how much of the conflict has actually ended.

The latest talks may be bringing the parties closer to an agreement. But for the global shipping industry, the decisive question is simpler: can a merchant vessel enter the Strait of Hormuz, transit it safely and predictably, and leave without facing a new set of political, legal or financial obstacles?

The post Iran Ceasefire Talks Put the Strait of Hormuz at the Center of a Fragile Middle East De-Escalation appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Wednesday that Tehran and Muscat are in the “final stage” of preparing an agreement and that a joint statement would be issued “if certain parties do not obstruct this process,” in an apparent reference to the United States.

According to The Associated Press, any agreement is expected to depend on the United States lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.

U.S. President Donald Trump declined Thursday to confirm whether an agreement had been finalized, telling reporters at the White House that the waterway “has been sort of open right now.”

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly, said any temporary shipping arrangements would not require vessels to obtain approvals or pay transit fees.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical to Global Energy Trade

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas exports.

Before the conflict involving Iran began in February, roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas transited the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with international shipping routes.

Despite diplomatic progress, security concerns remain.

According to maritime intelligence firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, at least two commercial vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz during the past week, while several others reported near misses or radio warnings from individuals claiming to represent Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Those claims could not be independently verified.

The company reported that weekly commercial traffic increased to 84 vessel transits during the week of July 27 through Aug. 2, up from 45 the previous week, though still well below the more than 700 weekly transits typically recorded before the crisis.

Fighting Intensifies in Yemen

Violence also escalated in Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi forces launched attacks that killed at least 30 troops aligned with the internationally recognized government and wounded at least 50 others, according to Yemeni officials.

The strikes targeted military positions in Marib and Hadramout provinces.

A Houthi official claimed Saudi-backed forces suffered “hundreds” of casualties, although those assertions could not be independently verified.

Hours later, Saudi Arabia said Houthi attacks struck the southern border region of Najran, injuring more than 10 civilians.

Saudi military spokesperson Turki al-Malki said those wounded included seven Saudi citizens, one Yemeni national, two Egyptian nationals and one Pakistani expatriate.

The attacks marked one of the most significant escalations since a 2022 truce substantially reduced fighting in Yemen’s long-running civil war.

Lebanon Ceasefire Under Renewed Pressure

Israel’s military said Thursday that two soldiers were killed and four others seriously wounded in an explosion in southern Lebanon, marking Israel’s first military fatalities since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect in June.

The Israeli military also carried out strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, saying Hezbollah had violated the ceasefire agreement. It additionally issued evacuation warnings for residents of another village, the first such warning in several weeks.

The renewed fighting coincided with negotiations in Rome between Lebanese and Israeli representatives seeking to implement the June ceasefire agreement, which calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from occupied areas of southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Political and Security Challenges Continue Across the Region

Elsewhere in the region, Uganda’s parliament approved the deployment of troops to a proposed International Stabilization Force for Gaza, although the multinational mission has not yet been established.

Several countries have pledged personnel, while Indonesia has suspended its earlier commitment.

Efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire also remain stalled after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would not withdraw from current positions until Hamas is fully disarmed.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli prosecutors charged settler Yinon Levi with reckless manslaughter in the July 2025 killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen. Prosecutors also filed charges of armed trespassing and malicious property damage.

Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem said it is the first indictment involving the killing of a Palestinian by an Israeli since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

In Iraq, authorities announced that armed activity outside state control after Sept. 30 will be prosecuted under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Law as the government seeks to consolidate authority over weapons held by non-state armed groups.

Several Iran-backed factions have rejected calls to disarm, saying they remain committed to what they describe as the “option of resistance.”

The latest developments illustrate the complex security landscape across the Middle East, where diplomatic efforts to restore maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz continue alongside persistent conflicts and political tensions stretching from the Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

The post Iran Signals Progress on Strait of Hormuz Agreement as Middle East Tensions Persist appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Speaking to reporters while traveling in California, Trump said “a lot of progress has been made” toward a deal. His remarks came early Wednesday in the Middle East because of the time difference.

The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant share of the world’s oil and natural gas exports. Since the conflict began, attacks on commercial vessels have sharply reduced maritime traffic, disrupting energy supplies and increasing volatility in global markets.

Oil prices declined following Trump’s comments. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 1.2% to $78.43 per barrel in early Wednesday trading as investors anticipated a possible improvement in regional shipping conditions.

Proposed Agreement Focuses on Shipping Routes

According to two regional officials familiar with the negotiations, the emerging proposal would establish separate inbound and outbound shipping corridors administered by Iran and Oman.

Under the proposed framework, vessels entering the Persian Gulf would travel through a route managed by Iran, while outbound traffic would use a corridor overseen by Oman.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations remain confidential, said ships would pay service fees intended to fund maritime security and environmental protection.

They cautioned that discussions are ongoing and that the final agreement could differ from the current proposal. They also said any broader agreement could be linked to lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.

Before the conflict began on Feb. 28, the Strait of Hormuz functioned as an international shipping lane. Since then, repeated attacks have significantly reduced commercial traffic through the passage.

Trump has repeatedly opposed any arrangement that would allow Iran to impose tolls on vessels using the strait.

Negotiators Report Progress but Key Issues Remain

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said discussions with Oman are focused on establishing secure shipping lanes that protect the sovereign rights and national security interests of both countries.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Baghaei said details of any agreement would be announced once negotiations conclude.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged progress while emphasizing that negotiators have not reached a final agreement. Rubio has previously argued that granting Iran control over the waterway could create an undesirable precedent for other strategic maritime routes.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during an interview with CNBC that an agreement could potentially be reached within a day or two.

Trump also indicated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz could serve as the first step toward broader negotiations involving Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran, however, continues to deny holding direct negotiations with Washington, maintaining that its discussions are taking place solely with Oman.

Regional Diplomacy Continues

Diplomatic efforts continued across the Gulf as Qatar sought to support negotiations.

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke by telephone with Trump on Tuesday, according to the emir’s office.

The two leaders discussed ways to narrow remaining differences and advance a lasting diplomatic settlement, the office said.

The renewed negotiations come as the Trump administration faces growing domestic pressure to reduce regional tensions following months of higher fuel prices and increased military expenditures.

Maritime Security Risks Persist

Despite signs of diplomatic progress, security threats continue across regional waterways.

An Indian-flagged commercial vessel sank Tuesday in the Red Sea after being struck by an explosive-laden boat off Yemen’s coast, according to Yemeni and Indian authorities. Coast guard crews rescued all 14 people aboard, including 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Iran-backed Houthi militants have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that a cargo vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s Musandam Peninsula.

British maritime security firm Ambrey said the vessel sustained damage, although authorities have not identified those responsible.

Negotiators hope the Oman-mediated talks will allow commercial shipping to resume more normally while broader diplomatic efforts continue to reduce tensions across the Middle East.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

The post Trump Says Strait of Hormuz Reopening Deal Could Come Within Days as Negotiations Advance appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

According to regional officials familiar with the negotiations, the proposed framework would establish separate shipping lanes for vessels entering and leaving the Persian Gulf. Under the plan, inbound traffic would use a route administered by Iran, while outbound vessels would travel through a lane overseen by Oman. The proposal also includes maritime service fees intended to support security and environmental protection.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly, cautioned that talks remain ongoing and that the final agreement could differ from the current proposal. They added that Iran continues to link any reopening of the waterway to the lifting of U.S. restrictions on Iranian ports, a demand that remains a major obstacle.

Maritime Control Remains a Key Sticking Point

Any agreement that gives Iran a formal role in managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would represent a significant diplomatic achievement for Tehran. However, U.S. officials continue to oppose any arrangement that grants exclusive authority over one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

A U.S. official familiar with the negotiations disputed reports suggesting Iran would approve vessel movements or collect transit fees under a temporary agreement. Speaking anonymously, the official said Washington supports restoring unrestricted international navigation without any country exercising exclusive control over the shipping lanes.

Iran and U.S. Offer Different Assessments

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said discussions with Oman are focused on creating secure shipping routes that protect both countries’ sovereignty while addressing regional security concerns.

He said details of any agreement would be announced after negotiations conclude, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged that negotiations have advanced but emphasized that no final agreement has been reached. He said Washington hopes the remaining issues can be resolved while reiterating the U.S. position that freedom of navigation must remain protected.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed similar optimism, saying an agreement could be reached within days if negotiations continue to progress.

Trump Pushes Diplomatic Solution

President Donald Trump has continued to promote diplomacy while warning that military options remain available if negotiations fail.

Speaking Monday, Trump rejected any proposal that would require commercial vessels to pay Iran for passage through the strait.

“I’m not going to let them charge,” Trump told reporters. “Anybody’s going to charge, we’ll charge.”

Trump also described the negotiations as Iran’s “last chance” to avoid additional U.S. military action and said reopening the Strait of Hormuz would create an opportunity to address Iran’s nuclear program through broader diplomatic talks.

Iran, however, maintains that it is negotiating only with Oman and not directly with the United States.

Shipping Security Remains Fragile

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas, making its security critical to global energy markets.

Although diplomatic efforts have reduced some concerns, commercial shipping continues to face security risks.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that an unidentified projectile struck a cargo vessel transiting the strait near Oman’s coast. British maritime security firm Ambrey said the ship sustained damage but provided no further details.

The incident followed weeks of attacks on commercial vessels operating near shipping routes monitored by the U.S. military, underscoring the fragile security environment despite ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

If an agreement is reached, it could help restore commercial shipping, ease pressure on global energy markets and reduce one of the most significant sources of instability in the Gulf region.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

The post Iran, Oman Advance Strait of Hormuz Talks as U.S. Backs Diplomatic Progress appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

According to The Associated Press, U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran had requested a meeting with American officials and that representatives from both countries were expected to meet Tuesday in Doha.

Iran, however, publicly rejected that characterization. Senior Iranian officials insisted no direct talks with the United States had been arranged, underscoring continued uncertainty over the future of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.

Conflicting Messages Over Qatar Meetings

Following Trump’s announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were traveling to Qatar for discussions.

Pakistan, which has served alongside Qatar as a mediator, also indicated that negotiations between Washington and Tehran were expected to resume Tuesday.

Iranian officials disputed those claims.

Senior negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi said no talks with the United States had been confirmed.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran’s delegation would instead meet with Qatari officials to discuss implementation of the interim agreement, including the release of frozen Iranian assets and related issues.

“There are no negotiation meetings with the U.S. side at any level scheduled in the coming days,” Baghaei said.

He added that the presence of American officials in Qatar was unrelated to Iran’s visit.

Military Activity Appears to Ease

Despite the diplomatic uncertainty, both sides appeared to suspend military operations Monday following several days of escalating attacks across the Persian Gulf.

The temporary pause follows an interim agreement reached earlier this month that calls for Iran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium while the United States eases sanctions and supports reopening maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The agreement also provides a 60-day period for negotiators to pursue a broader settlement.

Recent fighting had disrupted one of the world’s most important energy corridors, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments moved before the conflict began.

Iran conducted attacks against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, including a tanker carrying Qatari crude oil, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes and raising concerns that negotiations could collapse.

Iran also launched drone and missile strikes targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the negotiations, said Washington believes both sides are currently observing a pause in hostilities and that commercial shipping is again moving through the waterway.

Frozen Iranian Assets Expected to Be Released

The U.S. official also said Qatar is preparing to release approximately $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

According to the official, the funds would be used to purchase American food products for the Iranian population.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed the anticipated release of the assets in remarks carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, describing the move as “a great victory for the Iranian people.”

The announcement marked one of the highest-level public acknowledgments by Iranian leadership regarding the planned transfer of the funds.

Regional Security Concerns Continue

Separately, Oman said it is discussing with Iran possible service-related fees for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said any charges under consideration would relate to maritime safety, pollution prevention, navigation assistance, and emergency response services rather than transit rights.

He emphasized that Oman opposes imposing transit fees because such charges are prohibited under international maritime law.

Meanwhile, tensions also emerged between Iran and France after French President Emmanuel Macron announced international coordination on mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Gharibabadi responded that, under the interim agreement, only Iran is authorized to conduct demining activities in the waterway.

France and Oman later issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for free and unrestricted navigation through the strait while expressing their intention to cooperate on future demining efforts.

Lebanon Agreement Adds Another Regional Dimension

The broader regional situation remains volatile.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced Monday that Lebanon intends to deploy troops across its southern border under a framework agreement reached with Israel last week.

The arrangement calls for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah before Israeli forces withdraw from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has rejected the agreement and warned that attempts to implement it could trigger internal conflict within Lebanon.

While military activity between the United States and Iran has temporarily subsided, conflicting statements over direct negotiations suggest that efforts to secure a broader diplomatic settlement remain uncertain.

Tags: United States, Iran, Qatar, Donald Trump, Masoud Pezeshkian, Strait of Hormuz, Nuclear Talks, Diplomacy, Middle East, Oman, Hezbollah, Lebanon

The post U.S., Iran Pause Military Strikes but Differ on Whether Direct Talks Are Planned appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.