Iran and Oman Reportedly Agree in Principle on New Strait of Hormuz Transit Route
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced that Tehran and Muscat have reached an agreement in principle on a new maritime transit mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz. According to i24NEWS, Baghaei said the two countries had agreed on a "route map for transit" and are working to finalize the remaining details before issuing a joint statement.
The precise terms of the framework have not been officially disclosed. However, i24NEWS reported that the arrangement would provide for the reopening of the strait, with vessels entering near the Iranian coast and exiting along the Omani side. During a transitional period, ships would reportedly be allowed to transit without paying passage fees or tolls.
The announcement comes amid diplomatic efforts by Washington, which has said it wants arrangements it considers acceptable before lifting its blockade of Iranian ports. Baghaei acknowledged that negotiations with Muscat had progressed slowly but said Tehran was determined to finalize the package, according to i24NEWS. The report also noted that the agreement in principle comes as a 60-day deadline for reaching a broader US-Iran deal approaches its end, with Washington and Tehran still unable to reach a comprehensive agreement.
The Jerusalem Post offered a slightly different framing, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the talks. According to the Post, Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi will visit Tehran on Tuesday to continue discussions on the Strait of Hormuz. The report also noted that on Sunday, Baghaei said the army chief of Pakistan, which has mediated between the US and Iran, would visit Tehran on Monday.
The Post underscored the free passage of cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz as a primary issue in the broader talks, noting that Iran and the US have frequently contradicted each other on whether the strait was open or closed and who controlled it. On Saturday, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that Iran had granted permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the strait following repeated requests from Baghdad. IRNA said obtaining special permission for Iraqi tankers was one of Baghdad's main requests during Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's visit to Iraq.
Earlier this month, Iran said a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes was in its final stages but reiterated that the strait would only reopen once the US met other conditions. The Jerusalem Post also reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and the US are not engaged in talks, and Tehran will not start them as long as Washington breaches an interim deal signed in June, with messages being exchanged via intermediaries.