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

Iran and Oman have reached agreement on shipping coordinates through the Strait of Hormuz and are finalizing a joint management plan for the waterway, according to Iranian officials speaking on Wednesday. The proposed arrangement would create a temporary commercial corridor with no fees or tolls, allowing inbound traffic through Iranian waters and outbound routes closer to Oman.

The development comes after months of closed strait access that followed the start of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. One-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally moves through the passage, and its closure drove sharp increases in energy prices and supply disruptions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei described the talks as advancing, with a joint statement in final drafting stages provided no third parties intervene.

President Trump told reporters that substantial progress had occurred and that an announcement could come as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. U.S. officials have not confirmed details, but an Iranian government source linked to the negotiations said the deal is structured to restart the June memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. That step would begin a new 60-day negotiation window on broader ceasefire terms. The same source indicated that the International Maritime Organization and the United States would participate in any formal announcement, and that Gulf Cooperation Council members have endorsed the framework.

Shipping industry groups have already registered strong objections to any permanent charges. Eight major associations sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the International Maritime Organization warning that tolls would violate long-standing rules on transit passage and raise costs across global trade. The groups noted that even service fees functioning as tolls would create a precedent that undermines freedom of navigation in other strategic straits, ultimately increasing energy prices, inflation and economic uncertainty for households worldwide.

Reopening still depends on parallel U.S. actions. Iranian officials have stated that Washington must lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports before vessels can safely transit. U.S. forces have maintained a significant presence in the region, and two sources with direct knowledge of military logistics said the Pentagon has drawn down nearly its entire global stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously downplayed concerns about those inventories.

The Hormuz negotiations illustrate how narrow technical arrangements can serve as entry points for larger diplomatic efforts. By focusing first on agreed coordinates and joint traffic management, Iran and Oman have created a mechanism that sidesteps immediate questions of sovereignty while addressing immediate commercial needs. Whether the arrangement holds will depend on sustained restraint from all parties, including continued U.S. willingness to test whether the June understandings can be revived. Global energy markets and supply chains remain sensitive to any renewed disruption, underscoring the high stakes attached to these incremental steps.