The New York Times: Iran and Oman are nearing an agreement to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The New York Times: Iran and Oman are nearing an agreement to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
2026-08-04
Shafaq News – Washington
The New York Times revealed on Tuesday that Iran and Oman are close to reaching an agreement on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, according to Iranian and American officials.
Under the proposed agreement, ships entering the strait from the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Oman would have to take a route through Iranian territorial waters, while ships leaving the strait from the Arabian Gulf would take a parallel route near the Omani coast along the southern side of the strait.
According to the American newspaper, this arrangement aims to regulate shipping traffic in a way that ensures the continued flow of global oil, which used to pass through the strait at a rate of one-fifth of global production in peacetime.
However, an American official denied, in a statement to the newspaper, the accuracy of the Iranian description of the anticipated agreement, stressing that no fees would be collected, and that Tehran would have no role in determining which ships could cross the strait or which route they would use, in a position that reflects a difference in views between the two sides regarding the nature of the agreement and its implementation mechanisms.
For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said that as long as the American conspiracies, naval blockade and military aggression against Iran and its allies continue, there will be no permanent change to the traffic regime in the Strait of Hormuz, in a position that links any progress on the issue to stopping what Tehran describes as American aggression.
In a statement issued on July 14, the Omani Foreign Ministry described its role as “transparent and impartial cooperation with all parties,” with the aim of restoring freedom of navigation through the strait while complying with international maritime law.
Last June, Iran and Oman established a joint working group to negotiate navigation, shipping services, and the future management of the Strait, pledging to keep the waterway a “safe and open passage” for international shipping, in a move reflecting the two sides’ desire to find practical solutions that ensure the continuity of navigation in this vital passage.
These developments come as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an agreement with Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is imminent, either today or tomorrow, Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump had confirmed that he had backed down from launching an “unprecedented” strike against Iran in response to a request from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, stressing that Washington is currently negotiating with Tehran to give it its “last chance” before resorting to the military option.
shafaq.com
