US vice president: Safe shipping route in Hormuz a priority, pressure on Iran to continue

US Vice President J.D. Vance said that Washington will continue to apply pressure on Iran, noting that "the Iranians are suffering and want to bring this to an end."

Vance told Al Arabiya that the US is working to "establish a route that allows ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz," stressing that Iran has informed the United States it will allow the maximum possible flow of oil through Hormuz, but added that Washington does not trust Tehran.

The vice president also stated that the US plan includes a commitment from Iran not to fire on commercial vessels.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said today that now is the best time for an agreement, as there is cohesion, strength, and unity in the country. He noted that the current circumstances could provide an opportunity to continue the path toward an agreement and resolve issues through dialogue.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and Oman are "very close" to reaching an agreement on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, but added that there are conditions, including compensation for what Tehran describes as US "violations" of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Araghchi added that Iran and Oman are discussing a temporary route for navigation until technical and legal matters related to a permanent route are resolved.