Expect an Agreement Soon: The American Step Amid the Emerging Deal in Hormuz

A senior American official told Reuters that Iran and Oman are advancing toward an agreement on collecting fees in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Washington will lift the blockade on Iranian ports if an agreement to restore commercial shipping is announced. The outline unifies shipping routes into a two-way corridor, giving Iran oversight of ships in exchange for reopening the strait. Iran hinted at 'disruption by third parties,' and the US expressed concern over the precedent.

A senior American official told Reuters overnight that Iran and Oman are making significant progress toward an agreement regarding the collection of fees in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the official, 'There is progress between Oman and Iran regarding the strait, and we expect an agreement soon.' The official clarified that the emerging agreement will have a direct impact on Washington's actions: 'Once the agreement to restore commercial shipping is announced, without difficulties that would allow trade to continue without problems, the United States will lift the blockade on Iranian ports.' However, he stressed that American steps will remain conditional on implementation on the ground and on Iran fulfilling its commitments. The report follows remarks by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, who confirmed on Wednesday that Tehran and Oman have agreed on the 'coordinates' of the new shipping route in the strait, and that a joint statement is in the final stages of drafting. According to reports, the proposed outline 'unifies' the two existing shipping routes in the strait—the northern route in Iran's territorial waters and the southern route in Omani waters—into a single two-way corridor. This arrangement grants Iran oversight authority over ships entering the Persian Gulf, in exchange for reopening the strait to global trade. Baqaei clarified that the publication of the agreement is conditional on 'third parties not disrupting the process'—a clear hint at Washington. Meanwhile, while the US is willing to lift the blockade on the ports in exchange for regulating shipping, Washington expresses concern over the legal and strategic precedent, as the very recognition of Iranian state control over an international shipping route is a worrying development.