Washington, July 11 -- The United States has asked Iran to publicly declare that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping and pledge to halt attacks on merchant vessels as negotiations are set to take place in Oman on Saturday, US media quoted US officials as saying.
US media has cited unnamed US officials as saying that the communication was delivered directly to Tehran and through regional mediators as negotiators from both sides are in Oman for talks aimed at reducing tensions in the Gulf.
The demand follows renewed fighting this week, when attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz prompted U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets. Washington said the strikes were carried out in response to Iran'...