Paul Wallace

Africans need to invest.

There are deals to be done and business to be won.

One of them relates to, and this is a big one, the strait itself.

And it is about whether the Iranians will allow free passage of ships through the waterway if and when there's an interim deal with the US.

Now, the US and Arab states and Europe and, frankly, the rest of the world, they want and demand that ships have free passage through the strait.

But Iran is insisting on some kind of control.

One of them relates to, and this is a big one, the strait itself.

And it is about whether the Iranians will allow free passage of ships through Hormuz.

the waterway, if and when there's an interim deal with the U.S.

Now, the U.S.

and Arab states and Europe and, frankly, the rest of the world, they want and demand that ships have free passage through the Strait.

But Iran is insisting on some kind of control.

It's saying the drones came from Iraq.

Now, that's also a pretty interesting and potentially alarming development because it seems as if Iran's supported militias in Iraq are playing an increasingly important role in this war and are

being used to carry out attacks on Arab states.

I think it is notable that the Iranians yesterday, through their state media, said that the latest US proposal partly bridged the gaps between the warring countries.

And Marco Rubio, on his trip to Europe, the Secretary of State,

has said similar that there has been slight levels of progress.

So they're being cautious, but it is the first time in at least a week that either side is talking about

Iran and the U.S.