The Iran crisis has a new diplomatic pressure point: behind-the-scenes U.S.-Iran messages are now reportedly focused on both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, widening the talks from one oil chokepoint to two.
The National reported Tuesday, citing a Pakistani source familiar with the negotiations, that another round of message exchanges is taking place behind the scenes and is “focused exclusively on the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.” The source said Washington wants attacks on shipping to stop in both areas, while Iran is seeking concessions promised in June’s interim peace deal, including oil sales and gradual sanctions easing.
That is the fresh angle. List25 has already covered the Hormuz fee fight, falling vessel traffic, Saudi drone attacks, Houthi pressure on Red Sea shipping, and the U.S.-Iran strike pause. This update is different because the reported diplomatic channel is now trying to package Hormuz and the Red Sea together as one maritime-security problem.
Why The Red Sea Is Now In The Talks
The Red Sea matters because it is the main alternate energy route when the Persian Gulf is unstable. If ships cannot safely use Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb route is also under pressure, the crisis stops being a local Gulf problem and becomes a two-chokepoint threat to global shipping.
The National’s source said Pakistan’s role has become more important because Islamabad has a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is exposed to Houthi attacks from Yemen, while Pakistan has warned the Houthis against targeting Pakistan-linked vessels.
The Hindu’s live coverage, citing Reuters, reported that Yemen’s foreign minister-designate said the Houthis were trying to mirror Iran’s pressure on Hormuz by using Bab el-Mandeb. The same live file cited shipping data showing Bab el-Mandeb traffic had fallen after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, while Hormuz traffic remained low.
The Strike Pause Is Still Fragile
The wider diplomacy is happening during a fragile pause in direct U.S.-Iran strikes. Reuters, carried by Daily Maverick, reported that Washington abruptly suspended a two-week air campaign after 13 successive nights of bombing. President Donald Trump said the United States was having “good talks” with Iran, but warned that if diplomacy failed, “we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”
Reuters also reported that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq reported drone attacks during the pause. Saudi Arabia said drones aimed at petroleum targets were launched from Iraq by Iran-backed armed groups, while Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted Saudi crude oil transport infrastructure linking eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu on the Red Sea.
CBS News reported Tuesday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the Strait of Hormuz in separate calls with his Omani and Saudi counterparts. Iranian state TV said the officials stressed regional cooperation to restore stability and remove insecurity in the strait.
Two Chokepoints, One Problem
The hard part for negotiators is that Hormuz and the Red Sea are connected but not controlled by the same actors. Iran can pressure Hormuz directly. The Houthis can pressure shipping near Yemen. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, the United States, and Israel all have separate security interests that can either support or wreck a pause.
The practical takeaway is blunt: a U.S.-Iran pause is not enough if shipowners still see two maritime routes under threat. The next test is whether the back-channel messages can produce a real shipping-security arrangement, not just another short break between strikes.