US President Donald Trump confirmed to FOX News on Monday that there is a backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials, as the 60-day period in the Memorandum of Understanding expired. Trump also threatened to "bomb the s*** out of Oman" if it "gets in the way" of US control in the Strait of Hormuz. This follows reports that Iran and Oman have reached an "in principle" agreement on a new transit route for ships passing through the strategic waterway. According to Axios, Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani has been identified as the intermediary in the secret backchannel, based on information from three sources with direct knowledge of the discussions. Barzani, who lived in Iran during the Iraq-Iran War in the 1980s, studied at the University of Tehran, and speaks fluent Farsi, has personal ties with several IRGC members. Trump emphasized that Iran should "raise the white flag of surrender," stating he has "no time schedule" and is "in no hurry" to make a deal. He described the Iranians as "good poker players, but they’re dying," suggesting that the continued US naval blockade has increased pressure on the regime. The situation escalated further when Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that an understanding had been reached regarding the map of the transit route with Oman. The agreement, which would allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without paying fees or tolls during an interim period, reportedly involves a route close to Iran and another close to Oman. Baghaei noted that the talks have progressed slowly, though the plan to finalize the understanding in the form of a package, comprising the map and a joint statement, remains intact. However, the 60-day deadline for reaching an agreement under the June memorandum of understanding expired with no resolution, leading to renewed tensions. Trump’s remarks came amid heightened military activity around the strait, with US forces conducting operations to enforce a naval blockade against Iran. The US has accused Iran of restricting maritime traffic, prompting retaliatory strikes. In response to the developments, Trump reiterated that the "number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon." This stance appears to contradict recent statements by US Vice President JD Vance, who prioritized lowering gas prices over preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Additionally, Trump claimed that the June 2025 bombing of three Iranian uranium enrichment facilities had "obliterated" Iran’s nuclear capability and set back its program by decades. While the exact impact of these strikes remains unclear, the International Atomic Energy Agency previously reported that Iran was enriching uranium to 60 percent before the attack. Trump also mentioned that the US has many mid-level weapons but that more advanced systems, including air-defense systems, were "given away" to Ukraine by former President Joe Biden. Separately, Trump stated that the US has a "different channel with Hamas" and has been discussing demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. He suggested that Israel should not strike in Gaza because Hamas has agreed to "ultimately give up their guns." These comments followed meetings between US officials, including Jared Kushner, Nikolay Mladenov, and Tony Blair, with Israeli leaders such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push forward with plans for Gaza. As the situation continues to evolve, the implications of the Iran-Oman agreement and the potential consequences of Trump’s threats remain uncertain. With the 60-day MOU expired and diplomatic efforts stalled, the focus shifts toward whether the US can secure a deal or whether military action becomes inevitable. Meanwhile, the role of the backchannel and the influence of figures like Barzani could play a critical part in shaping the outcome.
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