Iran and US near a Hormuz understanding even as Tehran downs a US Predator drone
Iranian state media revealed a draft informal 'Islamabad understanding' with Washington covering navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the release of frozen Iranian assets, though Tehran says it has not approved the final text and could still walk away. The diplomacy advanced amid continued friction: Iran said it shot down a US MQ-1 Predator drone over its territorial waters, US Central Command disabled a Gambia-flagged ship bound for an Iranian port, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US blockade of the strait remains in place. President Trump, who sent Iran a revised framework with tougher terms, said Washington had deliberately avoided striking Iran's military, while Oman reported detecting a naval mine in the strait.
Iran and the United States edged toward a tentative accommodation over the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, even as both sides kept up military pressure. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB published details of a draft informal memorandum -- the so-called "Islamabad understanding," which it stressed has not been finalized -- that it said sets out proposed security arrangements for navigation through the strait and mechanisms to release Iranian funds frozen abroad.
Tehran was careful to keep its distance from the text. Saeed Ajorlou, a member of the Iranian negotiating team's media committee, said Iran had not approved the final draft and could withdraw if Washington failed to uphold its commitments. President Donald Trump, for his part, sent Iran a revised version of the peace framework carrying tougher terms, US media reported, and said Washington had intentionally refrained from targeting Iran's military, arguing that past wars had shown the dangers of dismantling a country's institutions and armed forces.
The diplomacy unfolded against continued confrontation. Iran's IRNA news agency said the country had shot down a US MQ-1 Predator armed drone above its territorial waters, while US Central Command said American forces disabled a Gambia-flagged commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman that was "attempting to sail toward an Iranian port." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remained in place and warned that Washington was ready to resort to military action again if diplomatic efforts failed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Iran responded that it would target any military vessel attempting to interfere in its management of the strait or to disrupt maritime traffic, and its parliament was set to vote on a bill formalising that management. The danger to shipping was underscored when Oman's Maritime Security Center said it had detected a naval mine west of the inshore traffic zone in the strait, within Omani territorial waters.