Proposed Iran-Oman deal could hand Tehran control over incoming ships, report says

A proposed Iran-Oman agreement could potentially grant Tehran control over inbound ships entering the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian source and regional officials cited by Reuters. This deal would mark a major concession in negotiations over the strategic waterway, which previously accounted for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Iran aims to charge shipping fees of 5% to 7% of cargo value for vessels using the strait, while Oman suggests lower fees around 3%. The United States opposes any mandatory transit fees, complicating the negotiations. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that negotiators had reached fundamental understandings on maritime routes, with a significant portion located in Iranian and Omani territorial waters.

The US remains opposed to any arrangement granting Iran authority over the Strait of Hormuz, citing concerns about potential Iranian attacks on vessels. Despite recent optimism from US President Donald Trump, who claimed progress had been made, Iranian officials cautioned that negotiations remain fragile and that a single tweet from Trump could potentially derail the deal.