US-Iran 60-day memorandum expires without peace deal as Trump threatens Oman over Hormuz talks

Expiration of the June memorandum

The 60-day negotiating window established under the memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June 2026 expired on Monday, 17 August 2026, without producing a permanent settlement. The conflict, which began on 28 February 2026 with joint US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets, remains unresolved as both governments consider the June document void. The 14-point agreement signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had established a framework to halt hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift the ban on Iranian oil sales, and negotiate terms regarding Iran's nuclear program. Relations collapsed after 7 July, when Iranian forces attacked commercial vessels attempting to navigate the strait without Iranian clearance, citing Article 5 of the memorandum. Washington responded with a 12-day bombing campaign, reinstated naval blockades on Iranian ports, and revoked oil export waivers, prompting reciprocal Iranian strikes across the Persian Gulf.

Trump threatens strikes on Oman

Tensions escalated further on Monday when Donald Trump directed direct threats at Oman, an allied nation that had served as a mediator before the war and was designated to host the planned peace talks. Speaking by telephone to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump warned Muscat against concluding separate maritime transit agreements with Tehran.

If they get in our way, we will bomb them mercilessly.

Trump had previously threatened to strike Oman in May 2026 when Iranian authorities first proposed a joint toll mechanism for commercial traffic. The renewed warnings followed statements from Trump on Friday, 14 August 2026, where he asserted that Washington would declare the Strait of Hormuz American territory following the war and restrict ship passage exclusively to approved vessels.

Bilateral transit talks in Muscat

Iranian officials stated on Monday that separate discussions with Omani authorities regarding commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz are progressing toward a final agreement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that both nations reached an understanding on a transit route map to circumvent the dual blockade enforced by Iranian and American naval forces. Under the proposed framework, commercial vessels would enter through an Iranian-controlled lane and exit through Omani-managed waters without paying transit fees.

The 60-day deadline for talks is irrelevant.

Baghaei stated that diplomatic dialogue with Washington never materialized because of widespread US violations of the June pact, adding that Muscat and Tehran intend to present their bilateral transit pact as a package including the route map and a joint declaration.

Military posture and regional diplomacy

Iranian military officials responded to the breakdown of talks by announcing revisions to their operational doctrine. IRGC Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Yadollah Javani stated during a television interview on Sunday evening that Iran's armed forces would reorganize their defensive posture across the region.

From now on, every action we take, even if defensive, must have an offensive character.

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces released a statement on the anniversary of the return of Iran-Iraq war prisoners, rejecting US claims over the strait and affirming allegiance to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. In Washington, the administration prepared measures to increase economic pressure on Tehran. Concurrently, Saudi Arabian officials conducted diplomatic talks with Oman and Qatar to manage regional stability while the strait, which accounted for 20% of global crude oil shipments prior to the conflict, remains largely closed to commercial shipping.