Iran Says It Is Nearing Final Agreement With Oman on Strait of Hormuz

What the report says

Iran said it is close to reaching a final arrangement with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil and gas traffic. The comments, reported by Iranian state media on Wednesday and attributed to foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, suggest the two neighbors are nearing a deal on how vessels would move through the strait after months of talks.

According to the reporting, the proposed framework would keep the waterway open through separate lanes for inbound and outbound traffic, with one channel closer to Iran and another nearer Oman. Iran has effectively restricted access to the strait in response to attacks by the United States and Israel this year, and Iranian officials have maintained that they will retain some role in managing traffic there. A joint statement is said to be in its final drafting stage, though Iranian officials indicated that third-party interference could still delay it.

The developing accord matters because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime passages, carrying a large share of international energy shipments. The New York Times reported that officials familiar with the talks had described a route system under which ships heading into the Persian Gulf would use a lane controlled by Iran, while outbound vessels would pass near Oman. Iranian officials have also described the arrangement as involving a service fee for shipping-related costs, but a U.S. official told the Times that account was not accurate and said any temporary routes would not require Iranian approval. The Omani government had not commented immediately.