CAIRO/WASHINGTON/RIYADH — Iran said Saturday that an agreement with Oman on a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz was close, but stressed that the deal alone would not reopen the strategic waterway. Tehran said other conditions, including compensation from the United States, would have to be addressed.
The development came as Washington said it expected an agreement between Iran and Oman soon, while the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of striking another vessel in the strait with a missile. The competing claims underscore the uncertainty surrounding efforts to restore commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Key Highlights
- Iran says it is “very close” to an agreement with Oman on a new Hormuz shipping route.
- Tehran says reopening the strait depends on additional conditions, including US compensation.
- The UAE says Iran struck a vessel linked to its state oil company with a missile.
- Washington says it would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once commercial shipping can resume without impediments.
Iran Says Oman Deal Alone Cannot Reopen Strait
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran and Muscat were close to reaching an agreement on a new route through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Araqchi said reopening the waterway would depend on several other conditions. Among them, he cited compensation from the United States.
Iran also no longer accepts the previous shipping traffic separation arrangement through the strait, according to Araqchi. Tehran is instead discussing a temporary route with Oman while technical and legal questions surrounding a permanent arrangement are resolved.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Set Conditions
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards offered a tougher assessment of the negotiations, saying reopening the Strait of Hormuz depended on Washington accepting Iran’s conditions rather than being solely linked to the discussions with Oman.
Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said Washington must stop interfering in regional negotiations. He did not publicly specify all of Iran’s conditions.
“Whenever the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened,” Mohebbi said, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
US Expects Agreement Soon
A US official, speaking anonymously, said Washington expected an agreement between Iran and Oman soon enough to allow normal commercial oil traffic to resume.
The official said the United States would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once a deal was announced that restored commercial shipping without impediments.
The official also said US actions would remain tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments.
UAE Accuses Iran of Striking Another Ship
As diplomatic efforts continued, the UAE said Iran had attacked a carrier affiliated with its state oil company while the vessel was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE said a missile was used in the attack and that no injuries were reported. Iranian authorities had not immediately commented on the allegation.
Iranian media reported the UAE’s account but did not include the portion in which the UAE attributed responsibility for the attack to Iran.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global energy supplies. Before the conflict began, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments passed through the narrow waterway.
Disruptions in the strait have therefore had consequences well beyond the region, affecting global energy shipments and contributing to higher energy prices and inflation.
Five Months of Conflict Have Disrupted Shipping
The current conflict began after US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran subsequently targeted US bases in Gulf states and Jordan and carried out attacks involving shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has also used the hostilities to justify charging tolls on oil tankers and has fired on ships attempting to cross the strait without its permission, according to the supplied Reuters report.
These actions have significantly disrupted global shipping and contributed to a surge in energy prices.
Proposed Deal Could Give Tehran More Control
Earlier this week, an Iranian senior source and two regional officials told Reuters that a proposed agreement between Iran and Oman could give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the strait.
Such an arrangement would represent a major concession to Iran. US officials have repeatedly said they would not accept Iranian control over access to the world’s most important energy trade route.
It remains unclear whether Washington has sought to change the proposed terms of the arrangement.
Energy Companies Report Attacks on Vessels
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Friday that 15 of its vessels had been struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began.
The company described the attacks as unprovoked and said one crew member had been killed and 20 others wounded.
The reported attacks add to concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and the potential economic consequences of prolonged disruption in the waterway.
Regional Shipping Risks Extend Beyond Hormuz
The disruption is not limited to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian strikes on shipping have coincided with increased attacks by Yemen-based Houthi allies on vessels near another major energy chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
With both routes facing security risks, any prolonged disruption could continue to put pressure on international energy shipments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Strait of Hormuz reopen after the Iran-Oman deal?
Not necessarily. Iran’s foreign minister said an agreement with Oman would not by itself reopen the waterway because additional conditions, including US compensation, would need to be addressed.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important to global markets?
The strait carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments before the conflict, making disruptions there significant for global energy supplies and prices.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus is on whether Iran and Oman can finalize a workable shipping arrangement and whether Washington and Tehran can resolve their broader differences over the conditions for reopening the waterway.
The latest UAE allegation of another attack on shipping could further complicate those negotiations. Until the competing conditions are resolved, the status of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain.
