TEHRAN – Just as hopes of reopening the Strait of Hormuz began to rise, Iran poured cold water on global expectations. Despite diplomatic progress with Oman and President Donald Trump’s latest “last warning,” Tehran says the oil shipping route will remain closed, as the high-stakes standoff is far from over. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, negotiations between Tehran and Muscat are moving forward positively and are being conducted exclusively between the two countries. Data from shipping firm shows that only eight vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on August 4, the same number recorded a day earlier. With both Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb operating far below normal capacity, uncertainty continues to grip global energy markets and international shipping.