Iran-Oman Hormuz Route Deal Nears as US Demands Free Passage

Iran and Oman have moved closer to an agreement on managing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, with officials from both sides reporting progress on coordinates for commercial traffic. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the two countries have aligned on the geographical details and are in the final stages of drafting a joint statement, provided no third parties interfere. The strait has remained closed since Iran shut it following U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February, cutting off a route that normally carries one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated to reporters that an announcement on reopening could come as soon as Wednesday or Thursday, citing substantial progress. Iranian officials have described the arrangement as temporary, with no fees or tolls applied to inbound traffic through Iranian waters or outbound routes nearer to Oman. A government source linked to the talks said the deal aims to restart a 60-day negotiation cycle tied to an earlier June understanding between Washington and Tehran. The International Maritime Organization and the United States are expected to participate in any formal announcement, and Gulf Cooperation Council members have reportedly endorsed the framework.

Shipowners have raised direct objections to any form of compulsory charges. Eight major international shipping associations sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the International Maritime Organization warning that tolls would violate established transit passage rules under international law. They noted that such fees would increase energy costs, fuel inflation, and ultimately affect livelihoods worldwide by raising prices for goods dependent on affordable fuel. The groups argued that turning the strait into a de facto toll booth sets a precedent that could erode free navigation rights in other strategic waterways.

The United States has already expended nearly its entire global stockpile of long-range precision missiles in the conflict, according to sources familiar with defense inventories. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has downplayed concerns over depleted reserves. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi separately claimed that Washington is prepared to return to prior commitments, though he provided no specifics. Tehran has insisted that any reopening remains conditional on the United States lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports and halting other military pressures.

Global energy markets have reacted sharply to the closure, with prices spiking and supply chains facing repeated disruptions. An open strait without added costs or political conditions would restore a measure of predictability to trade flows that governments have repeatedly threatened through closure or regulation. Historical patterns show that restrictions on maritime routes tend to generate higher consumer prices and slower economic growth across multiple continents rather than isolating effects on any single nation. Negotiators on both sides continue to review the draft statement while security incidents in the region underscore the risks that persist for vessels.