Oman presented Iran with a regionally backed proposal regarding the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz has become the main conduit in peace talks between the United States and Iran and a focal point for repeated escalation in the conflict, with half of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passing through it before the Iran war.
Iran says the strait’s situation cannot return to its previous state, when navigation flowed freely, while Gulf states insist on not paying any mandatory fees to Iran.
The source added that Iran would not exercise sole control over the vital waterway under the Omani proposal. The proposal has received regional support and was conveyed to Iranian officials in Tehran early this week.
The proposal is based on the model of the Malacca Strait, which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is jointly administered by the countries on its shores: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. There, shipping companies contribute to maintaining navigation safety aids, including buoys and lighthouses. Similarly, the proposal stipulates that users of the Strait of Hormuz would voluntarily contribute to a fund financing the costs of navigation management, environmental protection, search and rescue operations, and other services.
An official at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment. The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) said it had not participated in the discussions. A spokesperson for the organization said, “Any proposal regarding new shipping routes or measures to manage navigation should be submitted to the IMO for consideration by member states.”
The IMO designated the approved international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz in 1968. These lanes cannot currently be used due to the risk of Iranian mines; Tehran requires ships to take routes closer to Iranian coasts, while the United States offers assistance to ships taking routes closer to Oman. Oman’s delegation informed the IMO’s governing body at its July 9 meeting that it “does not support imposing transit fees on ships crossing the strait.” The delegation added, “At the same time… Oman sees merit in exploring voluntary arrangements related to navigation support services.”
In a statement, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the minister emphasized “the need to enhance cooperation and advance joint diplomatic efforts to establish stability in the region and eliminate the state of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz.”
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States is having “good talks” with Iran and that there is a chance of reaching an agreement, but he warned that US strikes would resume if negotiations fail.
