The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the potential deal will pave the way for the US and Iran to resume negotiations to reach a final deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump had said a deal on the Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday or Thursday. Mr Trump was asked by reporters travelling with him in California about a report on the Axios news site that an announcement on the Strait of Hormuz could be made on Wednesday. The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open for all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international waterway. Even as hopes increased that a deal on the Strait of Hormuz could be imminent, attacks on shipping in the region continued.