Iran and Oman close to agreement on new route through Strait of Hormuz
When the narrow sea corridor through which a quarter of the world's oil passes comes under the control of two countries, and superpowers are forced to watch from the sidelines, the world is once again reminded of the fragility of global logistics. The Strait of Hormuz is not just a point on the map – it is an artery on whose pulse the economies of continents depend. Iran and Oman, two states whose shores are washed by these waters, have been negotiating for more than three weeks, and their possible agreement could reshape the rules of the game in the region.
The new single route passing through Iranian territorial waters is not just a technical solution but a political signal: Tehran and Muscat are ready to take control of the strait into their own hands, leaving American and Israeli interests behind. While Washington sends mixed signals about its readiness for talks, the Iranian diplomat makes it clear: navigation conditions will be determined by only two countries, and any external interference will be firmly rejected.
In an interview with the official IRNA news agency published on Wednesday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said that the two sides had reached a preliminary agreement on almost all relevant issues, including the map of entry and exit routes, after more than three weeks of consultations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Tuesday described the ongoing talks between Iran and Oman as "positive" at both the technical and political levels, with a focus on defining safe routes for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the two countries have reached a consensus on the geographical coordinates of the proposed routes through the strait and are currently finalising a joint statement. However, Kazem Gharibabadi noted that a potential agreement does not mean the full opening of the strait.
He stressed that navigation conditions in the strait must be determined exclusively by Iran and Oman, and that Tehran will firmly reject any external interference. Gharibabadi dismissed US claims about talks with Iran, saying Tehran had received messages from Washington expressing a willingness to return to commitments under the peaceful memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in June. According to the deputy minister, the US sent Iran a message four to five days after the start of the latest round of hostilities, offering talks to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team told the semi official Fars news agency that the opening of the strait depends on the US actually fulfilling its obligations, adding that the US Treasury's lifting of sanctions on an Iraqi airline on Wednesday was not linked to the Iran US memorandum of understanding. On 28 February, Iran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, banning safe passage for vessels owned by or affiliated with Israel and the United States, following joint strikes on Iranian territory.
Last month, US military forces carried out several waves of strikes on Iranian targets, saying they were a response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait and aimed at "reducing Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping." Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on US military bases and facilities in the region.
The talks between Iran and Oman are taking place against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in relations between Tehran and Washington. In February 2026, Iran effectively blockaded the strait for US and Israel linked vessels after US airstrikes on Iranian targets. Oman has traditionally acted as a mediator between Iran and the West, and its involvement in the current consultations gives them particular weight. The US, despite its military actions, claims to be ready for dialogue, but Tehran distrusts these signals, pointing to continued sanctions and the US military presence in the region. Experts note that the new agreement could not only unblock shipping but also shift the balance of power in the region, strengthening the positions of Iran and Oman as key security guarantors in the Strait of Hormuz.
As CCTV+ reports, any final agreement will depend on the US's willingness to meet its obligations, but Iran has made it clear that it will not wait indefinitely and is ready to act unilaterally if Washington continues to maintain an ambiguous position.
