Iran rejects Omani proposal for joint management of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has officially rejected a proposal presented by Oman aimed at establishing a joint regional mechanism to manage the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The plan, which had garnered backing from various Gulf states, sought to model the waterway’s management after the Strait of Malacca, involving voluntary contributions from users to fund navigation, environmental protection, and search-and-rescue services. The proposal was presented to Iranian officials in Tehran over the weekend in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict and restore commercial shipping.

A senior Iranian official stated on Wednesday that the Omani plan has no chance of success, asserting that the Strait should be managed exclusively by Iran and Oman based on their respective areas of territorial control. Iran explicitly ruled out any equal 50/50 arrangement or the involvement of international powers, claiming that such proposals, allegedly pushed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, do not serve Iranian interests. Instead, Tehran maintains that it must retain control over the entire inbound route and parts of the outbound route. This rejection marks a significant setback for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, as the management of the Strait remains the primary obstacle to a broader peace agreement.