Iran and Oman near Hormuz shipping deal, challenging decades of free navigation
Iran and Oman are reportedly close to reaching an agreement that would establish a new framework for managing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, the proposed arrangement would place vessel movements through the strategic waterway under joint Iranian-Omani supervision without direct US involvement. If implemented, the deal would mark a significant departure from the Strait’s traditional status as an international waterway open to unrestricted navigation.
Under the plan, ships entering the Persian Gulf would travel through the northern shipping lane closer to Iran’s coastline, while vessels leaving the Gulf would use the southern lane near Oman. The proposal would effectively divide operational responsibilities between the two countries and create a new management structure for maritime traffic through the strait.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran would exercise full control over inbound shipping. Under the arrangement, vessels entering the Gulf would require Iranian clearance, while outbound traffic would be handled by Oman after notifying Iranian authorities. The source described the proposal as a temporary framework aimed at restoring commercial flows while maintaining security oversight in the aftermath of the conflict.
The plan also introduces a financial component. Iranian officials reportedly said that Tehran does not intend to impose formal transit tolls but would instead collect what it describes as “service fees" (in other words… tolls) related to security and environmental protection for oil tankers passing through the waterway. Revenue generated from these payments would reportedly be shared equally between Iran and Oman.
A US official rejected claims that ships would need Iranian approval to transit the strait and denied that any arrangement involving payments to Tehran had been accepted. The disagreement highlights the gap between the US and Iranian views regarding the future governance of the waterway.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly warned against any agreement that fails to restore the Strait of Hormuz as a fully open international passage. Rubio argued that allowing a country to control access to an international waterway, impose fees on transit, and condition navigation rights on political approval would create a dangerous precedent that could be replicated elsewhere around the world.
On one hand, a framework for reopening the strait could reduce the immediate risk of supply disruptions and support the normalization of shipping activity. On the other hand, the prospect of Iran gaining a formal role in supervising traffic through the chokepoint is likely to remain a source of geopolitical tension, particularly given strong opposition from the United States and its allies, which could act as a soft floor for oil prices.
In the near-term, the price action will continue to be driven by US-Iran developments as uncertainty around talks and potential weekend strikes is keeping oil prices supported.
This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.