Iran says it has agreed Strait of Hormuz shipping route with Oman

What the report says

Iran says it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to remarks from foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei reported by BBC World News. He said the arrangement was in its final stages, but did not provide technical details beyond noting that the route’s geographical coordinates had been agreed.

The reported deal comes against a backdrop of heightened tension in one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes. BBC World News said Iran has largely restricted traffic in the strait since late February, after attacks by the US and Israel, contributing to sharp swings in oil prices. Baqaei also said the agreement with Oman would not by itself ensure safe passage, arguing that insecurity in the area continues because of US actions, including a blockade on Iranian ports.

The United States has not commented on the proposal. BBC World News reported that US officials and mediators have been discussing reopening the strait, while President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be hit hard if the waterway did not reopen soon. Iran, however, says it is not negotiating with Washington. The development matters because any easing of restrictions on Hormuz could affect global energy flows and markets.