Iran and Oman have agreed on the geographic coordinates for a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and are finalizing a joint framework to manage vessel movements, according to Iranian officials. The agreement, still pending a formal joint announcement, aims to regulate maritime traffic through one of the world’s busiest energy corridors, although Tehran cautioned that the waterway would remain insecure as long as U.S. military pressure persists.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that Iran and Oman had reached consensus on the proposed route’s coordinates and were completing a joint statement outlining the main points of agreement. He emphasized that the negotiations were bilateral and independent of direct discussions with the United States. However, Baqaei warned that issues undermining the Strait’s security, particularly the U.S. naval blockade and hostile actions against Iran’s interests in the region, continue to pose risks for safe passage.
The Strait of Hormuz, which narrows to about 33 kilometers at its tightest point, carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Before the conflict escalated in February, it served as a critical artery for international energy supplies. Recent weeks have seen tensions rise, including attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait and adjacent waters, some attributed to Iran-backed groups.
Details emerging from Iranian and regional officials suggest the new arrangement would designate separate channels for inbound and outbound traffic: vessels entering the Persian Gulf would transit a route close to the Iranian coast, while those departing would use a corridor near Oman. Iranian sources indicate that ships leaving the Gulf would notify Iranian authorities, granting Iran oversight and potential intervention rights. There is also discussion of a possible "service fee"—not a formal toll—intended to cover environmental impact, security, and staffing expenses, with revenue shared equally between the two countries. However, U.S. officials deny that such approvals or fees are part of any temporary arrangement.
The United States has encouraged shippers to use a southern route through Omani waters where American and allied naval forces offer protection, a practice Iran rejects, insisting on adherence to routes it designates. The differing approaches have created overlapping, competing channels and security escorts, leaving commercial operators caught between concerns of protection and potential provocation.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that a deal to reopen the Strait could occur imminently, suggesting progress has been made but warning of severe consequences should negotiations fail. The proposed arrangement provides Iran and Oman a 60-day period to finalize reopening conditions while the U.S. and Iran are expected to resume talks on Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, a critical component of ongoing nuclear negotiations.
Some U.S. and regional officials remain skeptical of the emerging agreement, warning it may cement Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and undermine principles of free international navigation. Critics argue that recognizing Iranian oversight risks setting a precedent for unilateral control and potential exploitation of international waterways. Iranian negotiators, however, maintain that ensuring their security interests in the Strait is essential and that the waterway’s safety depends on the withdrawal of U.S. military pressure.
Analysts note that while reopening the Strait is crucial for global energy markets and political considerations, a lasting resolution balancing freedom of navigation with regional security remains elusive. The situation continues to evolve amid broader geopolitical tensions and ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.