Iran announced on Monday that it has reached an understanding with Oman regarding transit operations through the Strait of Hormuz, with both nations now working to complete a joint statement formalizing the arrangement. Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the two sides have agreed on the mapped transit route, though he declined to provide extensive details. Based on previously reported information, the proposed framework would allow vessels to enter the waterway along a route positioned closer to Iran and exit via a corridor nearer to Oman, with shipping operating without fees or tolls during an interim phase.
The United States had made reopening the strait to unrestricted commercial shipping a central requirement before lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. However, it remained uncertain whether the emerging agreement would satisfy American expectations regarding the arrangement’s terms and implementation. Baghaei acknowledged that negotiations with Oman have progressed at a measured pace but emphasized that officials anticipated completing the understanding as a comprehensive package incorporating both the transit map and a formal joint statement.
These developments coincided with the expiration of a 60-day negotiating window aimed at reaching a broader peace accord between the United States and Iran, with no announcement of a deadline extension and both parties appearing to maintain their previously established positions. The strait closure, implemented following military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, has restricted passage for approximately one-fifth of globally traded oil supplies.
In parallel developments across the Middle East, U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner engaged in separate discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a Gaza truce proposal. The meetings occurred the day after Kushner held talks with Hamas leadership in Egypt concerning disarmament provisions. Hamas indicated acceptance of a 15-point United States-backed roadmap that includes disarmament measures, while Israel rejected the proposal, citing Hamas’s failure to fully disarm as a prerequisite for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli forces currently control approximately 60 percent of the territory.
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