Iran and Oman Near Deal on Temporary Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route
( Iran, Oman, shipping deal, Strait of Hormuz, Iran Oman talks, Hormuz crisis, maritime shipping, Middle East crisis, West Bank crisis, UN aid, West Bank families, Palestinian families, humanitarian crisis, regional tensions, Gulf security, international diplomacy, Middle East tensions)
Iran says it has reached the final stages of an agreement with Oman to establish a temporary shipping route through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, potentially easing a major disruption to global energy supplies.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the geographical coordinates of the proposed route had been agreed with Oman. However, he warned that the arrangement would not necessarily guarantee safe navigation, arguing that the US naval blockade and other military actions against Iran continued to threaten security in the region.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the proposed route could remain operational for between two and four months. He did not provide further details about how the arrangement would work.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally passing through it. Traffic has fallen sharply since the conflict began, causing significant volatility in global energy markets.
The proposed agreement comes after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be "hit very hard" if the strait was not reopened soon. US officials have said discussions had made progress toward allowing shipments to resume, although Tehran continues to deny that it is negotiating directly with Washington.
A major dispute remains over whether ships would have to pay fees to cross the waterway. According to reports, Iran has sought fees of between 5% and 7% of the value of cargoes, while Oman has discussed a rate of around 3%. The United States reportedly opposes any such charges.
The reported arrangement could also give Iran significant control over vessels entering the Gulf through the strait. Tehran has previously insisted that ships must receive clearance before passing through the waterway and has attacked vessels that it says ignored its instructions.
Oil prices reacted cautiously to the latest development. Brent crude fell around 0.3% to about $79.24 a barrel in Asian trading, although energy markets remain highly sensitive to developments surrounding the conflict and the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest proposal follows a failed June agreement between Iran and the United States that aimed to halt fighting, reopen the strait and reach a broader settlement. The agreement collapsed within days as military strikes and diplomatic tensions resumed.
With the Strait of Hormuz remaining central to global energy transportation, any reopening of the route could reduce pressure on oil and gas markets. However, continuing military tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel mean that the proposed shipping arrangement remains uncertain.