Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday the US had ‘’begged’’ Tehran for negotiations, as President Donald Trump claimed the Navy had cleared the Strait of Hormuz of mines and now hold ‘’100%’’ control of the waterway. “That was what they wanted from us and, 20 days later, the same enemy was begging for negotiations,” the top diplomat added. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday evening, Trump said the US Navy now has full control of the waterway. Meanwhile, talks between Oman and Iran on the future of shipping in the Strait are now in an advanced stage, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said in a briefing yesterday. Oil prices initially rose more than two percent with the United States and Iran appearing to not make much progress towards a deal to reopen the Strait.