Iran has announced it has reached an agreement with Oman on a proposed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagai. The joint statement is under final review.
Bagai stated that negotiations are “progressing” and an agreement will be reached “if certain third parties do not obstruct this process.” He noted that the closure of the strait resulted from attacks by the United States and Israel, without mentioning Washington’s role in the current talks.
The deal involves charging fees for passage through the waterway. Tehran has proposed a fee ranging from 5% to 7% of cargo costs, while Oman suggested approximately 3%. The United States has consistently opposed any toll system on international waters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly emphasized that state control over international waterways violates international law and warned such actions could set a dangerous precedent globally. He stated: “If we set a precedent… levying a toll, and if you don’t pay it, blow up your ships…”
Iranian officials indicated the agreement is expected to be finalized by August 7, pending approval from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. However, Washington has ruled out any deal that grants Iran control over the strait.
The potential agreement could help end the five-month conflict between Iran and the United States by reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It also aims to address ongoing tensions over navigation rights in a waterway critical for global energy supplies.
Recent reports indicate US President Donald Trump ordered what he described as “the largest attack since World War II” but later called it off pending negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz, amid concerns about ammunition shortages for military operations against Iran.
This development follows weeks of bilateral negotiations between Iran and Oman to manage the strait, which has become a focal point in the broader US-Iran conflict.
