Iran announced it has reached an agreement with Oman regarding a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy transport. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the deal as being "in the final stages" but provided no further details.
Despite the reported progress with Oman, Baqaei cautioned that the agreement alone would not guarantee safe navigation. He asserted that the security of the strait remains compromised by what Iran describes as the U.S. blockade of its ports and other "aggressive and threatening actions." The United States has not yet commented on Iran's announcement. The strait, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes, has been a focal point of recent international tensions.
Earlier in the week, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning that Iran would face severe repercussions if the strait did not reopen "very soon." This statement followed reports from senior U.S. officials indicating progress in talks aimed at potentially resuming shipments through the strait later that week. Iran, however, has maintained that it is not engaged in negotiations with the United States and has no plans to do so.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has been a central issue in discussions involving the U.S. and mediating parties. According to Iran's official Irna news agency, Baqaei stated that the "geographical coordinates of the route" have been agreed upon with Oman. He reiterated that "factors making the Strait of Hormuz insecure still exist on the part of the United States," citing the naval blockade and other assertive measures against Iran and its interests. The U.S. has implemented a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the region, while Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have maintained a blockade on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports since July 20.