Oil prices went down to what they were before the war on Thursday. This happened because the United States said that oil was flowing normally through the Strait of Hormuz. The top diplomat of the United States finished a trip to the Gulf region where he tried to get support for a deal with Iran.
The person in charge of energy in the United States Chris Wright said that a lot of oil was being shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. In fact he said that 20 million barrels of oil went through the strait in just one day. This is similar to what was happening before the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
When the fighting started Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz. This caused problems with oil deliveries. Affected the entire world economy.
Even though things are getting back to normal Iran still wants to be in charge. The Revolutionary Guards, in Iran warned boats to follow the routes that they have designated. They said that new routes that were announced but not agreed upon with Iran are not safe and will not be allowed.
This warning came after Oman said they would have shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. They worked with the United Nations to make this plan.
The United Nations International Maritime Organisation has some information about ships. Since June 23 the International Maritime Organisation says that 57 ships with about 1,100 seafarers on them have gone through the strait as part of the evacuation plan.
The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wanted to make the Gulf allies feel better about the agreement between Washington and Tehran.
He met with the ministers from the Gulf Arab countries in Bahrain, where the US Navys Fifth Fleet is based.
After the meeting he talked to reporters. Said that the Gulf allies have some serious concerns and they want to know everything about the peace agreement, especially the parts about the Strait of Hormuz.
Marco Rubio said that if Iran tries to block ships in the strait or threatens them then the United States is going to have a problem with that.
Earlier he told the ministers that no country can charge people to use the ocean because it is water.
He also said that shipping fees will never be part of any deal.
The foreign minister of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaid said something, at the meeting.
Oman is a country that lies across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran.
Badr bin Hamad Al Busaid said that the new shipping arrangements should not include any tolls, which means that countries should not have to pay to use the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Faces Criticism from Republicans
The diplomatic effort is happening as US President Donald Trump faces criticism at home about the Iran war.
In a meeting with fellow Republicans on Wednesday Trump had a loud argument with Senator Bill Cassidy. This was right before his administration asked Congress for a lot of money to fund the conflict.
Some Republicans who were there said Trump and Cassidy had a shouting match. Cassidy wants the administration to explain a deal Trump agreed to week. This deal gives Iran benefits but does not meet the goals Trump had at the start of the war.
“It does not seem like things are going as planned ” Cassidy told reporters.
In a show of support for Trump Senate leaders scheduled a late-night vote. They wanted to block a resolution to end the fighting, with Iran. The Senate voted 50 to 47 to stop the war powers measure.
“This vote sends a message to Iran ” Trump said on media after Wednesdays vote.
Iran War Puts Pressure on Trump’s Republican Allies
The war is really bothering Trump before the elections in November that will decide who is in charge of Congress. One out of four Americans think the war was worth all the trouble according to a poll done by Reuters and Ipsos.
There are stories about what is in the deal and this has made a lot of people criticize Trump, both in his own country and in other countries.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is Irans negotiator said on Thursday that it is not true what the United States is saying. That Iran will use the money that was frozen to buy food from American farmers.
People also do not agree on some things like how much money Iran should get, who should check if Iran is making nuclear bombs, who is in charge of the Strait of Hormuz and what is going on with Israels war in Lebanon.
The deal says that there will be 60 days of talking to try to figure out the problems, like what to do, about Irans nuclear program and the war. The war and Irans nuclear program are issues that need to be solved.
Regional Doubts Persist
The Middle East is not sure about this deal. Many countries in the Middle East were attacked by Iran during the war. They think the deal is too good for Iran. The deal includes a lot of money three hundred billion dollars. Some sanctions will be lifted.
The countries that are friends with Washington in the Gulf are worried. They think the money could help Iran make its military stronger. Rubio said he did not talk about the money with the ministers from the Gulf on Thursday. The deal does not say anything about the missiles that Iran has.
Iran has to let ships move freely through the Strait of Hormuz for sixty days. After that Iran might charge fees to let ships pass through. Washington and its friends in the Gulf do not want Iran to charge these fees. They are against it. The deal with Iran is still an issue, for the Middle East and Washington. Iran and the deal are causing a lot of concern.
Ongoing Conflict in Lebanon
On Thursday top officials from Israel and Lebanon said there was no withdrawal from southern Lebanon. This was in response to a US official stating that Israel had moved some of its soldiers back as a sign of goodwill.
Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting in Lebanon since the group attacked Israel on March 2 to support Iran. Iran wants Israel and Hezbollah to stop fighting before it makes a lasting peace deal, with the United States.
