Iran and Oman have settled the general framework of an understanding to manage vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials announced this week. Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, told state media that the “general framework of the understanding with Oman has been determined, and the final text and details will be announced soon,” while cautioning that “the final decision must be made at higher levels.” Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei separately confirmed that the two sides had agreed on the geographical coordinates of a navigation corridor and that a joint statement was in the final drafting stage, provided “certain third parties do not obstruct this process.” The strait, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passed before the conflict, has been effectively closed by Iranian forces since US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

Under the proposed arrangement, as described by the semi-official Fars news agency, ships would initially enter the strait via a northern lane close to Iran’s coast and exit via a southern lane near Oman. After a specified transition period, both routes would be closed and all traffic would shift to a central corridor. Inbound traffic would be managed by Iran, while outbound traffic would be jointly overseen by Iran and Oman. Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the temporary routes could operate for two to four months, while other reports cited a 60-day initial phase. The framework does not constitute a full reopening, Gharibabadi stressed, but rather “a new model” under which a significant portion of the shipping route would pass through Iranian territorial waters.

Tehran has linked any permanent reopening to political and economic conditions, principally the lifting of the US maritime blockade. Iranian lawmakers are also pushing for provisions that would bar US and Israeli vessels from the waterway, require compensation from “hostile countries,” and impose a fee system for services. Oman has reportedly floated a voluntary-fee model, while Washington opposes any mandatory Iranian-controlled tolls. A US official said this week that temporary passage routes should not require approvals, permissions, tolls or charges. President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, said negotiations were “moving along” and that an agreement could be reached “soon,” but acknowledged that the strait remained dangerous, noting that “a single mine” could disrupt traffic.

The diplomatic push follows the collapse of a June agreement, which Iranian officials say was mediated by Pakistan, under which Iran had agreed to open the strait and waive transit fees for 60 days in exchange for the release of frozen assets. Tehran accused Washington of failing to honour that deal and instead establishing an alternative route through Omani waters, prompting Iran to restrict traffic and fire on vessels using the US-backed corridor. The new Iran-Oman framework still requires the approval of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, with whom communication has been difficult since he was injured in the initial February attacks. Iranian officials say the final text and details will be announced once that approval is secured, but have made clear that the strait will not be considered safe as long as US naval forces maintain their presence and blockade.