Iran admits Straits attack was a mistake as talks with US resume

Iran has privately admitted to the Trump administration that attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz were a "mistake" and has expressed a desire to keep negotiations alive, according to senior U.S. officials.

The admission comes as American and Iranian negotiators prepare to meet in Oman in a fresh attempt to preserve a fragile ceasefire that has come under increasing strain following recent military exchanges.

Private apology, public pressure

According to U.S. officials, Iranian representatives told President Donald Trump's advisers that the attacks were not part of a deliberate strategy but were carried out by an "errant" faction of hardliners seeking to derail diplomatic efforts.

"They came back to the table and said, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking,'" one senior official said.

While the White House has welcomed Iran's private message, it is pressing Tehran to make a similar admission publicly, viewing the attacks on commercial shipping as a clear breach of the ceasefire agreement.

Oman talks take centre stage

President Trump has instructed his negotiating team—including Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior adviser Jared Kushner—to continue discussions with Iranian officials in Oman.

The administration hopes Saturday's talks will produce a firm Iranian commitment to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping, restoring conditions that existed before the latest conflict.

One U.S. official warned that if Iran fails to provide those assurances, "it's not going to be a great day for them."

Dispute over shipping lanes

Although Iran has blamed the attacks on rogue hardliners, U.S. officials believe there was another factor behind the incident.

Washington's assessment is that Tehran was caught off guard by the unexpectedly high volume of oil and gas tankers using the southern shipping lane along Oman's coastline. Officials believe Iran reacted after realising how much commercial traffic was bypassing routes closer to its own shores.

Despite the differing explanations, the administration says it is willing to continue negotiations—for now.

Trump gives diplomacy limited time

Officials say President Trump is allowing negotiators room to reach an agreement but has made clear that his patience is limited. Should Iran resume hostile actions, the United States is prepared to respond using both military and economic pressure.

The administration also indicated that discussions over Iran's nuclear programme remain on the agenda but warned that progress will be impossible unless Tehran first demonstrates it can honour basic commitments, including guaranteeing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials said the U.S. would prefer to deal with what Trump has described as the remaining "nuclear dust" through negotiations. However, they stressed that other options remain available if diplomacy fails.

For now, all eyes are on Oman, where both sides will attempt to prevent the latest crisis from escalating into another round of confrontation.

SOURCE

If only ASEAN Now arguments ended with, “We screwed up. Let’s keep talking.” We’d all faint. 🤣

That sounds like the left hand of the Iranian regime has no control over the right hand. How do you negotiate a deal with Iran, if they can't guarantee that the deal will hold later?