Oman says talks with Iran over a new route through the Strait of Hormuz are making progress, but Tehran has warned that any deal would not restart shipping immediately.
Both sides said a final agreement was likely, yet no concrete timeline was given. Oman’s foreign ministry cautioned that attacks on vessels could block progress.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks were in final stages, but said the Strait would reopen only once other conditions were met.
Iran has blockaded the waterway – through which about a fifth of global oil and gas flows – since US and Israeli forces began striking the area last February.
The negotiations focus on creating a joint‑controlled route that could get trade moving again, but Araghchi emphasised that Iran must receive US compensation for breach of a recent cease‑fire agreed in June.
Security chief Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr added that the Strait will stay closed until the US “corrects” policies, including ending its naval blockade of Iranian ports and releasing frozen assets.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates confirmed a missile strike on an Adnoc tanker, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a vessel fired upon near Oman, though the incident’s details remain unclear.
In the United States, President Donald Trump suggested a deal is soon possible, while Vice‑President JD Vance said further work is needed despite progress, stressing that a “traffic scheme” must be set up for safe passage.
The Strait is a critical chokepoint; oil can flow at 5%–7% of cargo price under Tehran’s proposed toll, yet the US denied any such plan.
Overall, the situation remains fluid, with both sides hopeful yet cautious about the conditions necessary for the Strait to reopen and for shipping to resume safely.
