Iran and Oman reach preliminary agreement on Strait of Hormuz transit route

Iran and Oman have reached a preliminary agreement regarding the geographical coordinates for a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the deal is in its final stages, though he cautioned that the arrangement alone does not guarantee safe passage, citing ongoing US blockades of Iranian ports. Regional officials noted that under the emerging framework, inbound vessels would utilize an Iranian-controlled route, while outbound ships would follow a separate path.

Commercial activity in the region remains severely impacted, with Kpler data showing only two commodity vessels passing through the strait on Wednesday, compared to the 130 to 140 daily transits recorded prior to the February conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel. Shipowners and insurers remain hesitant to resume operations, despite diplomatic efforts. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that Iran would face severe consequences if the waterway is not reopened soon. While US officials have suggested that shipments might resume later this week, Iran continues to maintain that it is not negotiating with Washington.