Six months into the Iran war, Hormuz is still shut — and now Tehran wants military ships excluded

Nearly six months after the onset of the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to all military vessels, according to Iran. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced this during a meeting with Oman's top diplomats, stating that no military ships will be permitted to pass through the crucial waterway if the new framework is made binding.

The proposed commercial route would have all traffic from the Gulf of Oman passing through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would traverse both Iranian and Oman's territorial waters. The Trump administration had previously objected to the deal, particularly the joint management of the exit route, which is vital for global oil and natural gas supplies.

Iran and Oman are currently negotiating the terms of the agreement, which aims to manage ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, military actions continue in Gaza as Israel carries out strikes in response to the war with Iran, while the United States continues efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire. The situation in the region is tense, with ongoing military strikes and disruptions to travel and trade.