Iran and Oman Discuss Potential 60-Day Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
The international community is awaiting a potential agreement between Iran and Oman to resume shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, the deal is expected to be temporary, emerging as US President Donald Trump pushes for a rapid restoration of oil flows ahead of the November congressional midterm elections. Reporting for Al Jazeera, Mustafa Azrid notes that the proposed agreement would last for 60 days, during which negotiations for a permanent settlement would continue. This timeframe mirrors a previous US-Iran memorandum that failed to endure, raising questions about the viability of any new interim arrangement. One proposal involves creating two distinct maritime lanes: an inbound route near the Iranian coast under Tehran's control, and an outbound route near Oman monitored by Muscat. Because the Persian Gulf is largely enclosed, analysts suggest that controlling the inbound lane effectively grants influence over the outbound route, as blocking entry would render the exit path redundant. The issue of transit fees remains contentious. The New York Times reports that Iranian officials claim they will not levy transit tolls, though vessels may be charged for environmental and security services. Conversely, US sources close to the negotiations insist the agreement will include no fees whatsoever. Negotiations in Tehran have been protracted, which Al Jazeera attributes to the cautious approach of Iranian negotiators or internal political divisions. Previous talks between Iran and Oman collapsed after Oman, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization and the US, opened a shipping lane in the south near Omani waters. Iran responded by targeting two vessels in that lane. The US deemed the attack a violation of the memorandum and launched a series of airstrikes against Iran, which in turn targeted what it described as US military bases in Arab nations. With military operations currently paused, Reuters reports that a US official stated Washington would lift the blockade on Iranian ports once an agreement for the unhindered resumption of commercial shipping is announced. This could shift the focus from a Tehran-Muscat deal to renewed direct US-Iran talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that reopening the strait depends on several factors, including compensation for the US violation of the Islamabad memorandum. He added that the previous plan for separating traffic lanes is no longer acceptable and a new route must be established. Meanwhile, US officials continue to emphasise economic pressure. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reiterated the threat of 'economic fury,' describing it as a parallel pressure to military operations. Bessent claims Iran is facing inflation between 150 and 180 percent and is struggling to pay its military personnel. These disputes reflect diverging interests: Iran argues that the status of the Strait of Hormuz should not return to pre-war conditions and seeks greater authority over transit to secure long-term gains. The US, conversely, seeks to maintain the existing maritime order—a system established in the 19th and early 20th centuries with US and British involvement—fearing that increased Iranian control would set a precedent that undermines this framework.