Iran and Oman reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz on August 5, 2026.
The Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and LNG exports, has remained largely blocked since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. After months of conflict and military campaigns—including a two-week strike effort in July—the two littoral states are now attempting to establish a structured mechanism to resume commercial traffic.
Tehran’s Control Over Inbound Traffic
The core of the proposed arrangement is a major concession to Iran. According to a senior Iranian source and two regional officials cited by Reuters, the deal would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the strait. While Iran has reportedly relaxed its demand for full control of both directions, it still seeks oversight of outbound lanes and the ability to intervene if necessary.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told the IRNA news agency that the arrangement is designed in such a way that commercial ships will pass through Iranian territorial waters, both on the inbound and outbound legs of their journey.
This shift would allow Iran to exercise powers it did not possess before the war, such as charging tolls. However, regional negotiators are still fighting over the definition of control
, with some Gulf countries insisting that ship inspections be supervised by regional nations and that any fees remain voluntary.
The Role of Esmaeil Baghaei and the Omani Negotiations
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, characterized the talks with Muscat as professional
and moving forward
. He confirmed that the two sides have reached a mutual understanding on the geographical parameters of the route.
The process has moved through several technical layers over the last two months. Baghaei noted that Iranian authorities reviewed the proposal from environmental, legal, security, and technical perspectives. A joint statement outlining the key points of the agreement is now in the final stages of review, though Baghaei warned that certain third parties
could still obstruct the process.
Donald Trump and the U.S. Position
Despite these claims, U.S. officials have repeatedly maintained they will not accept Iranian control of the waterway. This creates a fundamental tension: the very “concession” that makes the Oman deal possible is the one detail the U.S. has historically rejected.
Security Risks and the Naval Blockade
Agreement on coordinates does not equal a guarantee of safety. Baghaei explicitly stated that an understanding with Oman would not, by itself, ensure security in the strategic waterway. He argued that the factors causing instability—specifically the U.S. naval blockade and aggressive actions against Iranian interests—remain in place.
Unresolved Diplomatic Deadlocks
While Iran and Oman are coordinating a framework, Tehran continues to deny that it is negotiating directly with Washington. This suggests that any final reopening of the strait will be a secondary effect of the Iran-Oman deal rather than a tripartite agreement.
- Definition of Control: Whether Iran has absolute authority or if regional countries supervise inspections.
- Financials: Whether the proposed tolls are mandatory or voluntary.
- U.S. Compliance: Iran’s insistence that the U.S. end its naval blockade of Iranian ports before the strait fully reopens.
- Outbound Traffic: The specific role and level of oversight Iran will maintain over ships leaving the Gulf.
As the U.S. The world now waits to see if the joint statement between Tehran and Muscat survives the interference of the “third parties” Baghaei cautioned against.
