US-Iran Strait of Hormuz talks: All about a 30-day plan, Tehran's toll reversal and what Rubio said in Jaipur

The United States and Iran are engaged in talks over a proposed 30-day timeline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, according to a report by Japan’s *Nikkei* newspaper citing a Middle East diplomatic official. Under the plan, Iran would remove mines from the strait within 30 days of reaching a formal agreement, allowing unrestricted navigation. Iran would also suspend transit fees for passing ships, though fees for services like navigation assistance and environmental protection could remain under a protocol negotiated with Oman. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the potential deal lacks specific details on managing the strait and emphasized that nuclear negotiations would only proceed after a broader framework agreement. Tehran has repeatedly denied intentions to develop nuclear weapons, despite possessing a stockpile of highly enriched uranium. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in Jaipur, India, warned that finalizing an agreement with Iran could take days, dismissing expectations of an immediate resolution. He stressed the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that it ‘has to be open’ and that the US would prioritize diplomacy before considering alternative actions. Recent US military strikes in southern Iran, confirmed by US Central Command, targeted boats laying mines and missile launch sites, citing threats to American troops. Iran claimed to have downed a ‘hostile’ stealth drone using a new air defense system, though the drone’s origin was not identified. These strikes occurred amid talks in Doha, where Iran’s foreign minister and central bank governor met with Qatar’s prime minister to discuss the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear stockpile. The ceasefire agreed in early April is set for a 60-day extension, with the interim period dedicated to nuclear negotiations. Rubio described the current talks as offering ‘a pretty solid thing on the table,’ highlighting progress on the strait’s reopening and a ‘time-limited negotiation’ on nuclear issues.