Iran and Oman Agree on Shipping Routes Through Hormuz
Joint statement in final stages, but Iranian sources deny Trump's claim of imminent deal
Joint statement in final stages, but Iranian sources deny Trump's claim of imminent deal
Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the geographical coordinates for a shipping lane through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, announced Esmail Bagai, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. A joint statement from the two countries, containing the key points of the agreement, is in the final stages of review and drafting, he added.
Bagai described the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat as "professional" and assessed that they are "progressing." He emphasized that "the two sides have reached a mutual understanding on the geographical parameters of the route under discussion." However, he also warned that such a bilateral agreement alone does not guarantee security on that waterway, as reported by Novi list, citing Reuters.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi clarified that parts of the agreed routes, including the entry and exit corridors, must pass through Iran's territorial waters. "We are witnessing a new model. This new model is based on securing the national security interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a new strategy of the Islamic Republic to establish effective sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz," Gharibabadi stated to WarFront Witness.
The proposed arrangement would allow Tehran to oversee vessels entering the Gulf, marking one of the largest concessions to Iran to date, according to a senior Iranian source and two regional officials who spoke to Reuters.
Despite apparent progress, sources denied claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that an agreement to reopen the strait is within reach. They stressed that important details have yet to be agreed upon. This difference in interpretations reveals the caution with which Tehran approaches the finalization of the deal, while downplaying expectations coming from Washington.
Bagai also emphasized that for the successful conclusion of the process, it is crucial that "some third parties do not interfere," alluding to potential external pressures that could jeopardize the agreement.