Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that a deal with Oman regarding control over the Strait of Hormuz is in its "final stage" and will soon be in place "if certain parties do not obstruct this process."Though not mentioned by name, the inference is that US President Donald Trump — who triggered the shutdown of the all-important waterway when he launched his war with Iran on February 28 — will again scupper a return to shipping flow. "The factors making the Strait of Hormuz insecure still exist on the part of the United States, particularly the naval blockade and other aggressive and threatening actions against Iran and its interests," Iran's Foreign Ministry said.Mediator Pakistan praised Oman's role in making the Tehran-Muscat deal a reality, adding that it would pave the way for comprehensive peace negotiations between Iran and the US.The strait agreement could see ships traveling through Iranian and Omani waters and paying fees for safe passage.Iran has insisted that it will exert control over the international passageway — through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supply generally flows — but the US has insisted traffic must flow freely and without fees, as it did before Trump ordered US attacks on Iran.Currently, the US has a blockade on the blockade, with Iran controlling the movement of ships through the narrow passage and the US maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports.As the world economy sputters under the increased economic strain brought on by the US war, Trump has faced growing pressure from his Republican underlings in Congress to end the unpopular, price-busting conflict before November's mid-term elections.IDF soldiers killed in southern Lebanon operationsIsrael on Thursday said that two of its soldiers were killed during operations in southern Lebanon when an improvised explosive device detonated during a house search. Four more soldiers were seriously injured in the blast.The incident occurred near the Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun.Previously, Israel pounded southern Lebanon with bombs on Wednesday in response to what it said was a "blatant violation" of a June ceasefire agreement by the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah.Lebanon’s Health Ministry said one person had been killed and 12 injured in the Israeli strikes.Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese army is tasked with disarming Hezbollah, which operates independently of the government, and Israel is supposed to withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory.Currently, Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are trying to put together a longer-term peace agreement at negotiations being held in Rome, Italy.