THERE is a “50-50” chance that Iran and Oman will reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Friday, a senior Gulf official has said.

It followed claims from US President Donald Trump that an agreement to end his nation’s war with Iran could come any day now. 

“It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day,” the US president told reporters on Tuesday night. “A lot of progress has been made.”

Despite the vague announcements, Iran said its talks with Oman to reopen the strait were progressing “positively,” but it denied having spoken to Washington. 

The Gulf source told CNN today that the Iranian delegation does not include the voice of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which would have to sign off on the details.

Iranian and Omani negotiators have finalised the draft deal and are awaiting final approval from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, two regional officials told the Associated Press news agency today. 

The officials portrayed the potential deal as a temporary solution tied to the June agreement, which ultimately collapsed. 

They said the deal would pave the way for the US and Iran to resume negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Earlier, officials said the possible agreement called for ships to enter the Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for security. 

Oman and Iran have not officially commented, but a senior Iranian diplomatic source told Al Jazeera that remaining issues “do not appear to be particularly complex.”

The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal giving Iran control over the strait, which was an open international waterway before the war began with unprovoked US and Israeli attacks on February 28.The conflict has since turned into a fight for control of the strait after Iranian threats halted the passage of ships.

Violence continued elsewhere in the region, with Israel beginning “targeted strikes” in southern Lebanon, allegedly in response to Hezbollah breaching the latest ceasefire. 

One person was killed and 11 injured in attacks on Tibnin, according to initial reports. 

Earlier, Israeli media reported that two Israeli soldiers had been killed and several wounded when an improvised explosive device went off inside a booby-trapped building in the Lebanese village of Majdal Selm.