Iran and Oman negotiate deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman are reportedly nearing an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. Under the proposed 60-day plan, inbound vessels would use a shipping lane near the Iranian coast, while outbound traffic would utilize a lane near Oman. The current proposal excludes transit fees for commercial vessels, and regional partners may assist in demining operations and technical requirements. The agreement remains pending approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.

Tehran has rejected claims that this represents a continuation of previous June agreements, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi clarifying that this is a new model reflecting current security environments. Iran is demanding that the United States revoke actions it deems violations of past commitments. Concurrently, an Iranian parliamentary committee is reviewing a separate bill that could impose fines of up to 20% of cargo value on "hostile" ships, such as those from the U.S. or Israel, passing through the strait. Shipping associations have raised concerns regarding the feasibility of these new conditions.