Persian Gulf states explore pipeline projects to bypass Strait of Hormuz

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday the Trump administration is working on the "final piece" needed to reopen commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, calling on US allies and partners to support the effort, according to the Associated Press.

Johnson said he spent three hours at the White House with Donald Trump, JD Vance and Marco Rubio, adding that Trump was focused on restoring commerce through the strategic waterway.

"All of us are calling on our allied nations and friends — the Arab states in the region, and NATO partners and everyone else," Johnson told reporters at the Capitol. "The entire world has an interest in the Strait of Hormuz being reopened for commerce. That's what he's working on."

Inspectors general for the Department of War, State Department and US Agency for International Development have begun legally mandated oversight coordination for Operation Epic Fury, the Department of War Office of Inspector General said in a press release on Wednesday.

Department of War Inspector General Platte B. Moring III was designated lead inspector general for the operation on May 12, after the military operation exceeded 60 days as an overseas contingency operation, the statement said.

Moring will coordinate US government oversight activities tied to the operation, including a joint strategic oversight plan and quarterly reports to Congress. The first quarterly report is expected in the fall.

"This Lead Inspector General designation not only follows the framework required in the IG Act, it also reflects the extensive experience of the DoW OIG with comprehensive oversight of overseas contingency operations," Moring said.

"We are collaborating closely with our colleagues to promote accountability and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars," he added.

Eyewitness accounts sent to Iran International reported sounds of explosions and air defenses in several Iranian cities on Wednesday, including Tehran, Karaj, Bojnourd, Robat Karim and Urmia.

Locals reported consecutive air defense sounds in eastern Tehran and a loud explosion around 8:45 p.m. in the Hakimiyeh area.

Residents also reported several explosions around 10 p.m. in Tehran’s District 14 and unusual sounds in the Narmak neighborhood.

Other accounts said air defense sounds were heard in Karaj and Urmia, the capital of West Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran, explosions were heard from Bojnourd Airport, and explosions and limited anti-aircraft fire were heard in Robat Karim, southwest of Tehran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington and Tehran were studying the texts that had been exchanged, in an interview with Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen.

Araghchi warned that Iran would respond decisively if Israel attacked Beirut.

He added that Tehran's contacts with ⁠Washington have not ‌been ​cut off, but ​no ⁠progress has ‌been made ​in the negotiations.

A possible memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington would be implemented through a four-stage mechanism if finalized and agreed, Saeed Ajorlou, a member of Iran’s negotiating delegation’s media team said in excerpts of an interview published by IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency on Wednesday.

Ajorlou said the first stage would be the end of the war and the complete halt of military action, covering all parties and all fronts, including Iran, the United States and Tehran's regional allied groups.

He said the second stage would involve "executive and tangible measures," including arrangements related to the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the blockade, the removal of oil restrictions and sanctions, and the release of part of Iran’s blocked assets and resources.

The third stage would focus on talks about sanctions and the nuclear file, after the implementation of concrete and verifiable measures, Ajorlou said.

He added that the fourth stage would involve forming a monitoring committee to implement the understanding and follow up on the commitments of both sides.