U.S. gives Iran Saturday deadline to publicly renounce Hormuz attacks (axios.com)

The Trump administration is demanding that Iran issue a public statement acknowledging the Strait of Hormuz is open and committing to stop firing on commercial ships. The message has been conveyed directly and through regional mediators , three U.S. officials said in a briefing with reporters Friday. Why it matters: The administration says Iran violated the memorandum of understanding (MOU) it signed with the U.S. three weeks ago by repeatedly firing on commercial vessels in and around the strait. The attacks triggered several exchanges of fire and pushed the fragile agreement closer to collapse, with President Trump declaring the ceasefire "over" this week. U.S. officials argue that Iran's failure to honor such a straightforward commitment raises serious doubts about its willingness and ability to implement a far more complex nuclear agreement. Driving the news: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi are expected to meet Saturday in Muscat to discuss the Hormuz crisis. In recent weeks, even before the MOU was signed, Oman had aligned with the U.S. and its Gulf allies by opening a southern channel near its coast for ships to transit the strait. Iran was furious that the move weakened its negotiating position. U.S. officials claim Iranian negotiators told them that radical elements within the regime opened fire on ships in an effort to claw back leverage. Publicly, Iranian negotiators, IRGC commanders and other senior officials have been united in their demand that Tehran retain control over navigation through the strait. The other side: Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Friday that Araghchi's visit to Oman will focus on the Strait of Hormuz and maritime security. "Iran accepted a clear responsibility regarding the establishment of normal arrangements and maritime services related to ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and we have been very determined and resolute in fulfilling that responsibility. Under the agreement, we were to consult and cooperate with Oman on this matter," he said. Behind the scenes: A U.S. official said the Iranians reached out to the administration after two days of skirmishes earlier this week and sought further talks to resolve the dispute. "They told us, 'We screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking,'" the official claimed. Baghaei denied on Friday that Iran had requested negotiations with the U.S. and claimed Iran only agreed to a request by the Qatari mediators to come for talks in Iran. The U.S. official added that a power struggle is underway inside the Iranian regime over implementing the MOU and the next steps in negotiations with the Trump administration. "There are elements within their system that want to reach a deal, but we can't make decisions for them. They need to get things under control," one U.S. official said. What they're saying: The U.S. officials said they expect Iran to issue a statement after Saturday's meeting in Oman. "We w