Iranian officials have told Donald Trump's advisers that firing at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz was a mistake and that they want talks to continue. Washington now wants a public acknowledgement and says the next Oman meeting will test whether Tehran will keep the waterway open.

According to the officials, Tehran blamed the incidents on an "errant" faction of hardliners that allegedly acted to derail ongoing negotiations.

Prior to this week's attacks, daily tanker traffic had risen to its highest since the war began, averaging 40 ships transiting the strait.