New York, Aug 2026 : Iran and Oman have agreed on a proposed navigation route for the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying a joint statement on the arrangement is now in the final stages of preparation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Wednesday that Tehran and Muscat had already agreed on the geographic coordinates of the proposed navigation corridor. The agreement is expected to be formally outlined in a joint statement once the final drafting and review process is completed.
According to Iran's IRNA news agency, Baqaei said the statement could be finalised provided there was no interference from external parties. He added that the document would reflect the key considerations and points agreed upon during negotiations between the two countries. There was no immediate public confirmation from Oman regarding the reported agreement or the status of the proposed joint statement.
Iranian media reports suggested that the arrangement would establish a mechanism allowing Tehran to monitor maritime traffic while taking into account the security and navigation concerns of both Iran and Oman, the two countries located on either side of the Strait of Hormuz. Tasnim news agency, citing informed sources, reported that the proposed system would allow Iran to oversee inbound maritime traffic through a shipping lane under Iranian control. Iranian authorities would also maintain visibility over outbound vessels and retain the ability to intervene when considered necessary to safeguard maritime security and navigation.
Earlier, IRNA reported that negotiations had focused on replacing separate northern and southern shipping routes with a single intermediate corridor intended to accommodate the interests and security requirements of both coastal states. According to media reports, vessels entering the Gulf would use a corridor running along the Iranian coast, while ships leaving the Gulf would follow a route closer to the Omani side. The proposed arrangement could also involve the collection of a service fee for facilitating maritime transit.
Iranian reports have stressed that such a charge would not constitute a toll. The distinction is significant because the imposition of a formal toll on international shipping through the strategic waterway has been opposed by US President Donald Trump. The negotiations between Tehran and Muscat have taken place without direct US participation.
Iran has maintained that no other country is involved in the discussions, underlining the bilateral nature of the proposed arrangement. The development comes after US officials had expressed expectations that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within days. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said on Tuesday that a deal could potentially be reached by Tuesday or Wednesday, while Trump had earlier indicated that reopening the waterway could happen quickly.
Those timelines have passed without the Strait being fully reopened to normal commercial shipping. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints, carrying a substantial share of global oil and gas shipments. Prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway has therefore raised concerns over energy supplies, freight movement and international commodity prices.
The proposed Iran-Oman navigation arrangement could provide a framework for restoring maritime movement while addressing the security concerns of both countries, although its implementation will depend on the final agreement and developments on the ground. (The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
