- Iran and Oman have held talks over vessel passage arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
- US officials, including Donald Trump, signaled that a deal over the strait of Hormuz could be reached as soon as today; Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent also said progress had been made in talks.
- Iran’s state media reported that a deal would not guarantee the strait would be reopened anytime soon; a central demand from Tehran has been removal of the US naval blockade, and it threatened to keep the strait shut if the US continues to threaten Iran.
- The Associated Press reported regional officials said service fees would be charged for keeping ships safe and protecting the waters; Iran has said the strait will not operate as before and seeks a greater role, while the Trump administration rejected any deal allowing such control.
- Trump rejected fee-based control, saying: ‘I’m not going to let them charge,’ and ‘Anybody’s going to charge, we’ll charge.’
US officials, including President Trump, have indicated that a deal regarding the strait of Hormuz could be imminent, with Trump stating, “It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day.”2
However, the negotiations between Iran and Oman are described as independent, with Iran's state media clarifying that the agreement does not ensure the strait's reopening. “The possible agreement... has nothing to do with the immediate opening of the strait,” reported IRIB, emphasizing that the talks are purely Iranian-Omani and not linked to US involvement.
The strait has been effectively closed since February 28, leading to a surge in global energy prices. Iran has made it clear that the reopening of the strait hinges on the removal of the US naval blockade and a change in US behavior. “If US violations continue, the strait of Hormuz will not open even with an agreement between Iran and Oman,” warned Iranian officials.3
Additionally, regional officials have noted that any agreement may involve service fees for ensuring the safety of vessels in the strait, a point that has been met with resistance from the Trump administration. “I’m not going to let them charge,” Trump stated, asserting that any fees would be imposed by the US instead.4
As the crisis in the Middle East continues, the situation remains fluid, with both hope and uncertainty surrounding the future of this critical shipping route.
“Iran's state-run IRIB said any Iran-Oman agreement has nothing to do with the immediate opening of the strait and that negotiations are purely Iranian-Omani. Tehran's central demand is removal of the US naval blockade, while Trump rejected fee-based control: 'I'm not going to let them charge.'”
The Guardian
