Britain and France have aligned with the Sultanate of Oman on working to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, reaffirming their commitment to regional stability and respect for state sovereignty. Meanwhile, the United States granted Iran a one-week grace period before it must engage in final-settlement negotiations, and Turkey stressed that Israel must not be allowed to derail a deal to end the war between Washington and Tehran.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the Sultanate of Oman has agreed to work with Britain and France to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open.
A joint statement issued by Starmer and Macron read: "The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy. The restoration of safe passage for ships of all nations through the strait is a matter of global concern," according to the British news agency PA Media.
The statement added: "The Sultanate of Oman has agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to ensure that its sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation."
Starmer and Macron further stated that the United Kingdom and France reaffirm their shared commitment to regional stability, respect for the sovereignty of all states, and their readiness to maintain close cooperation with their partners in support of global security, freedom of navigation, and international law.
US President Donald Trump, for his part, revealed that the United States had granted Iran a one-week grace period to hold funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, out of kindness, as he put it.
Trump said the Iranians are strongly looking to reach a deal.
"We defeated Venezuela in one day, and we taught Iran a harsh lesson. They are eager for a settlement — they want a settlement very badly. We gave them a week off for the funeral of Ali Khamenei because we are kind," he said.
On a related note, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that peace efforts in the Middle East cannot succeed without regional support, and that Israel must not be allowed to sabotage a deal to end the war between the United States and Iran.
Speaking alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul, Erdoğan added: "No solution that does not draw its strength from the will and contributions of the region's countries can be lasting."
Erdoğan continued: "We are closely monitoring the Israeli administration's attempts to blow up the agreement between the United States and Iran. The current Israeli government, addicted to war, must not be allowed to once again plunge our region into the smell of gunpowder and blood."