Tehran | August 6, 2026
Iran and Oman are reportedly close to finalizing a new maritime arrangement for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a senior Iranian diplomat, the proposed framework would replace the temporary northern and southern navigation corridors with a single shipping route passing through Iranian territorial waters for an initial period of two to four months.
The move comes after more than three weeks of negotiations between Tehran and Muscat, with officials indicating that most key issues have been resolved in principle. However, Iran has clarified that the proposed arrangement should not be interpreted as a full reopening of the strategically important waterway.
Iran and Oman Close to Agreement on New Shipping Route
Speaking to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said both countries have reached broad agreement on the proposed maritime corridor, including entry and exit routes for commercial vessels.
According to Gharibabadi, the discussions have covered nearly all technical and operational aspects of the new shipping arrangement, bringing the agreement close to completion.
Strait of Hormuz Will Not Fully Reopen
Iran stressed that the proposed shipping framework applies only to designated commercial navigation routes and should not be viewed as a complete restoration of normal operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials said the arrangement is intended to facilitate commercial shipping under controlled conditions while broader security and diplomatic issues remain unresolved.
Iran Rejects Reports of Formal US Negotiations
Gharibabadi also dismissed reports suggesting that Tehran and Washington have resumed formal negotiations.
He stated that Iran has received messages from the United States expressing a willingness to return to commitments outlined in the June peace Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but emphasized that no official talks are currently underway.
Full Reopening Depends on US Commitments
A source associated with Iran’s negotiating team told the semi-official Fars News Agency that any decision to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz will depend on whether the United States implements its obligations under the peace agreement in a practical manner.
The source also clarified that the recent US Treasury decision to lift sanctions on an Iraqi airline is unrelated to the Hormuz negotiations.
Why Iran Tightened Control Over the Strait
Iran significantly tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, restricting the safe passage of vessels linked to Israel, the United States, or their allies.
Tehran said the move was taken in response to joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iranian territory.
How US-Iran Military Tensions Escalated
Last month, the US military carried out airstrikes on multiple Iranian targets, stating that the operation was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping following attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones targeting US military bases and installations across the region, further escalating tensions between the two countries.
