A possible U.S.-Iran deal is now moving from diplomatic language into a hard operational question: who clears the Strait of Hormuz if the shooting pauses?
President Donald Trump is expected to discuss plans to demine the Strait of Hormuz with allies at next week’s Group of Seven summit in France, according to The Associated Press. The timing matters because Pakistan, a key mediator, says a deal to end the Iran war could be ready for signature very shortly, while Iran is already warning that the exact signing date remains uncertain.
The result is a new phase of the crisis. The headline is no longer only whether Washington and Tehran can agree to a memorandum. It is whether the U.S., Britain, France and regional partners can turn any pause in fighting into a practical reopening of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoint.
G7 Allies Are Being Pulled Into the Reopening Plan
AP reported that a senior U.S. administration official said Trump plans to raise Hormuz demining during the G7 summit, which begins Monday in France. Britain and France, both G7 members, have expressed interest in helping clear the waterway once the conflict is paused, and the official said both have military vessels at sea that could participate.
That makes the G7 meeting more than a diplomatic photo opportunity. If a deal is signed, allied navies may quickly face the job of making the strait usable again while avoiding a new clash with Iranian forces, militia-linked operators or leftover explosive threats in one of the busiest maritime corridors on earth.
Sky News also reported that a senior U.S. administration official said de-mining the Strait of Hormuz would be discussed with allies at the summit. Sky’s live coverage said Trump is also expected to hold talks with leaders from France, Egypt and India, while AP reported planned sideline meetings involving Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan Says a Deal Is Close, Iran Says Not So Fast
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a deal aimed at ending the war was closer than “ever before” and expected to be finalized within 24 hours, according to AP. Pakistan was preparing for an electronic signing, followed by technical-level talks next week.
Iran’s public line was more cautious. AP said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei indicated the agreement would not be signed immediately, though the possibility of finalizing the memorandum in the coming days remained high. Sky likewise reported that Tehran contradicted claims of a near-immediate signing and said there were no plans for Iran’s negotiating team to travel in the next day or two for an agreement ceremony.
That gap is important. Washington and mediators are talking like a deal is close enough to plan implementation. Tehran is signaling optimism, but also protecting itself from being boxed into a U.S. or Pakistani timeline.
The Strait Is the Deal’s First Real Test
The Strait of Hormuz has been central to the crisis because disruptions there can ripple through oil, gas, shipping insurance and allied military planning. AP reported that Iran has effectively controlled the strait since shortly after the war began, while the U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports in response.
That means reopening Hormuz would not be a symbolic concession. It would require ships to move safely, insurers to regain confidence, and naval commanders to understand who is responsible for removing or avoiding mines and other hazards. Even a signed memorandum would not instantly restore normal traffic if merchant operators still believe the route is dangerous.
The demining issue also tests burden-sharing. Britain and France have signaled they may help, but the U.S. would still be central to coordination, intelligence and escalation control. Gulf states would have a direct stake in whether the reopening plan is fast enough to stabilize energy flows without provoking another confrontation.
Why This Is a Fresh Turn in the Iran Crisis
Recent Iran updates have focused on whether a peace text exists, whether nuclear terms are included, and whether Iran would retain control over Hormuz. This development pushes the story into execution. If Trump brings demining to the G7, the war’s next question becomes less abstract: which countries put ships near the strait, under what mandate, and how quickly after a ceasefire or memorandum?
That is also where the risks are sharpest. A rushed demining mission could become a trigger point if the chain of command is unclear. A slow one could leave the deal looking hollow to markets and Gulf allies. And if Iran disputes any outside military role near Hormuz, the same waterway that made a deal urgent could become the first place it is tested.
For now, the factual picture is narrow but significant: mediators say the deal is close, Iran says the timing is not settled, and the United States is already preparing to ask allies how to physically reopen the strait. That is a new operational angle in a crisis that has spent weeks circling around the same diplomatic language.
Sources: Associated Press, Sky News.