Iran says it has agreed on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, with its foreign ministry describing the deal as being in its final stages. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that the geographical coordinates of the proposed route had been agreed, but stopped short of releasing specific details. He added a firm caveat. The deal with Oman would not guarantee safe navigation through the strait as long as the United States maintained its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The announcement sent oil prices slightly lower. Global benchmark Brent crude fell 0.3 percent to $79.24 in Asian trade on Thursday morning. This is a modest movement that reflects just how much uncertainty still surrounds the deal.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi later told state media the proposed route would be temporary, potentially remaining open between two and four months. Washington has not commented, and neither has Oman publicly.
Money remains the sticking point. Iran is demanding transit fees of between five and seven percent of cargo value from ships using the strait. Oman has proposed a figure closer to three percent. Washington wants no fees at all. The proposed arrangement would also hand Tehran significant control over vessels entering the Gulf. A condition the United States has not publicly accepted.
The strait has been effectively closed since February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. A Memorandum of Understanding signed in June aimed at ending hostilities collapsed within days, with both sides resuming attacks almost immediately.
Adding to the uncertainty is the condition of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was wounded in the February strikes that killed his father and has not appeared in public since. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that communication with Khamenei was “difficult at the moment.” The statement has fuelled speculation about the stability of Iran’s top leadership at the most critical point of the conflict.
On Tuesday, President Trump warned Iran would be “hit very hard” if the strait did not open soon. Senior US officials said separately that talks had progressed enough for shipments to potentially resume later this week.
The strait may be about to reopen. What it reopens to is another question entirely.
READ ALSO: https://alo360.net/israel-strikes-southern-lebanon-mansouri-evacuation-2026/
