Iran, Oman Work Toward Interim Agreement on Hormuz Passage

Iranian officials say negotiations have entered the final drafting phase. The proposed arrangement would establish designated corridors for commercial ships, including a route through Iranian waters for vessels entering the Persian Gulf and a separate passage near Oman for outbound traffic. (Tell Us USA News Ai)

HOME I I HI TECH NEWS I SPORTS I CONTACT

Iran, Oman Work Toward Interim Agreement on Hormuz Passage

Iran and Oman move closer to an interim shipping agreement, but disputes over maritime control, security guarantees and Washington’s role continue to threaten a final breakthrough

Daoud Al-Jaber - Middle East Affairs Analysis
Tell Us Worldwide News Network

CAIRO - Iran and Oman are edging toward an interim agreement aimed at restoring commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, but the reported progress remains fragile, with key questions still unresolved over control of the shipping lanes, maritime security and Iran’s authority over vessels using the route.

Iranian officials say negotiations have entered the final drafting phase. The proposed arrangement would establish designated corridors for commercial ships, including a route through Iranian waters for vessels entering the Persian Gulf and a separate passage near Oman for outbound traffic. However, neither Muscat nor Washington has publicly confirmed that a final agreement has been reached.

The talks are unfolding amid a wider confrontation involving Iran, the United States and the security of one of the world’s most important waterways. Any agreement would have to address vessel inspections, naval escorts, communications, mine clearance and responsibility for responding to incidents at sea.

Reports of a possible 60-day interim framework have added urgency to the diplomacy. Under the reported plan, inbound ships would use a northern passage through Iranian waters, while outbound vessels would travel through a southern lane under Omani coordination. The proposal could initially suspend transit fees and reserve a central channel for later use after mines and other hazards had been cleared.

For Tehran, the issue is inseparable from its claim to a decisive role in waters adjacent to its territory. Iranian officials have described the discussions with Oman as a maritime arrangement rather than direct negotiations with Washington. They have also indicated that an agreement on shipping routes would not necessarily amount to a full reopening of the strait.

That distinction is politically significant. Iran can present the negotiations as a sovereign regional initiative while avoiding the appearance of conceding to American pressure. But any formula that gives Tehran effective control over the principal passage would face opposition from Washington and regional governments that depend on uninterrupted access to the Gulf.

Oman is serving as the essential intermediary, drawing on longstanding ties with both Iran and the United States. Muscat’s diplomacy has traditionally relied on quiet negotiations and incremental confidence-building rather than public declarations, making it particularly suited to a crisis in which every statement can be interpreted as a concession.

Oman must help secure a workable route without appearing to endorse unilateral Iranian control. It must also reassure shipping companies and Gulf governments that commercial vessels will not become instruments in a broader strategic confrontation.

The United States has not endorsed the reported framework. American officials have indicated that Washington would reject any arrangement that left Iran in control of the entire waterway. Reports have also linked a possible agreement to broader measures involving Iranian ports and the wider confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

The negotiations therefore remain suspended between regional diplomacy and great-power pressure. Tehran insists the talks are with Oman, but Washington remains a decisive factor in determining whether any agreement can operate in practice.

The current status is best described as near agreement rather than final settlement. Iran says route coordinates have been settled and that a joint statement is being prepared, but implementation details and the political conditions surrounding the reopening remain unresolved.