Oman proposes Hormuz management system with voluntary fees, source says

Oman has proposed a joint regional management system for the Strait of Hormuz with voluntary fees from shipping firms, a Gulf source told Reuters. The proposal, backed by regional states, was presented to Iranian officials over the weekend in Tehran. Iran insists the strait cannot return to pre-war free shipping, while Gulf states reject mandatory payments to Iran.

Oman has presented a proposal to Iran for joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz, with shipping firms paying voluntary fees, a Gulf source told Reuters on Tuesday. The strait, which carried a fifth of global oil and LNG before the Iran war, remains a key hurdle in peace talks and a flashpoint for escalations. Iran has said the strait cannot return to its pre-war free shipping status, while Gulf states insist on no mandatory payments to Iran. The Omani proposal, which has regional backing, was presented to Iranian officials over the weekend in Tehran. It is based on the Strait of Malacca model, where shipping firms contribute voluntarily for navigational safety aids. Under the plan, users would contribute to a fund for navigation management, environmental protection, and search and rescue. The UN's International Maritime Organization said it was not involved in the discussions. Iran's Foreign Minister discussed the strait with his Omani and Saudi counterparts on Monday, emphasizing cooperation to establish stability. US President Trump said on Monday the US was having good talks with Iran, but warned strikes would resume if negotiations fail.