The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, Aug. 8, edition that Iran is near finalizing a deal with Oman on new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday an agreement with Oman on the strait was in its "final stages" but reiterated comments made on Saturday that Tehran would not reopen the channel unless the United States met certain demands made by Tehran. The deal with Iran would set out the new shipping lanes to be used once the U.S. fulfills those conditions and the strait is reopened, Iran's Mehr news agency quoted him as saying. Iran and the U.S. are not engaged in direct talks, and Tehran will not start them as long as Washington breaches an interim deal signed in June, Mr. Araqchi said, adding that messages were being exchanged through intermediaries. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was "low-keying" it with Iran. He said: "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money." Mr. Araqchi said reopening the strait would depend in part on the U.S. paying compensation for damage it caused in widespread attacks on Iran.