Iran says a deal with Oman to create a new commercial shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz is close to finalisation after the two countries agreed on route coordinates. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday that officials were reviewing and drafting a joint statement.
The timing of any announcement remains unclear, and the proposed agreement would not automatically make the waterway safe or reopen it. Tehran says the US naval blockade of its ports and other hostile measures must also be addressed.
At a glance:
- The proposed corridor would run through both Iranian and Omani territorial waters.
- Iran says the routes could operate for two to four months or longer, while the United States opposes Iranian approval requirements or transit charges.
- A shipping agreement would be separate from broader peace talks between Iran and the US.
- The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies in peacetime.
Why the talks matter
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Oman and the United Arab Emirates lie on one side of the waterway, while Iran lies on the other; the strait passes through Iranian and Omani territorial waters, with some outer areas in UAE waters.
Related coverage: Iran-Oman Talks Show Progress on Strait of Hormuz Shipping.
The waterway became a major flashpoint after Iran closed it following US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February. The disruption sent oil prices higher and unsettled global energy markets, making safe commercial passage the central practical issue in the negotiations.
What Iran and Oman are discussing
Baghaei said the negotiations cover technical, legal, security and environmental questions. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the agreed concept would place large parts of the route in Iranian territorial waters and other parts in Omani waters.
Iran has said existing temporary routes would be closed and replaced with inbound and outbound routes. Those routes could be used for two to four months or potentially longer. Tehran has also indicated that some form of fee system may be introduced, although international maritime law bars tolls for passage through international straits while allowing charges for services such as pilotage or environmental protection.
More context: Eight shipping associations warn against Strait of Hormuz fees.
Why an announcement would not mean reopening
Baghaei has rejected the idea that an agreement with Oman alone would make the waterway safe for vessels. Iran says the broader source of instability is the US naval presence, the blockade of Iranian ports and other measures against the country and its interests.
The June 17 memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran had called for Iran to keep the strait open to shipping for at least 60 days, but that framework later collapsed. The two sides disagreed over routes, and Iran attacked ships that used an Oman-approved route backed by the US.
The positions of Iran and the United States
Iran insists it is negotiating with Oman rather than directly with Washington. Tehran says Iran and Oman should jointly manage navigation according to their respective territorial waters, and Iran has said it will not reopen the strait while the US blockade of its ports remains in place. Reuters reported that Iran had dropped an earlier demand for full control of shipping in both directions, but was unlikely to make further concessions.
Also read: Iran and Oman Exchange Proposals on Managing the Strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The US wants commercial vessels to have unrestricted passage without Iranian tolls, permits or approvals. US officials have said Washington wants a return to a system in which no party controls the shipping lanes or the ability to transit them. Eight major shipping associations have also urged the United Nations to oppose transit tolls, warning that they would violate international norms and damage the global economy.
Questions readers ask
Would a Hormuz agreement end the Iran-US conflict?
No. The agreement under discussion concerns a temporary or potentially extended shipping corridor. Broader peace negotiations could resume afterward, but the wider dispute would remain unresolved.
Who is mediating the talks?
Oman is holding the negotiations with Iran. Omani mediation has previously helped bring Washington and Tehran into talks, and officials describe the current discussions as Iran-Oman negotiations rather than direct Iran-US talks.
When will the deal be announced?
No announcement date has been given. Iran says the parties are in the final stage of reviewing and drafting a joint statement, provided outside developments do not obstruct the process.
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