Iran and Oman Negotiate Temporary Shipping Corridor in Blockaded Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman are negotiating the creation of a temporary shipping corridor and a joint mine clearing project in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a joint statement, the foreign ministers of both nations discussed a phased framework to restore safe navigation in the waterway, which has been largely paralyzed since US and Israeli attacks began in late February. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that an agreement has been reached regarding the sharing of revenues from the strait, although a senior Iranian source later told Reuters that the two countries are still working on the details of the accord.

Tehran has linked the full reopening of the strait to several conditions, including the end of the war on all fronts, the lifting of a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and compensation for war damages. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that no military vessels would be allowed through the strait and that commercial vessels would be monitored. This follows the collapse of a June memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran that was intended to pave the way for a permanent end to the conflict.

Shipping traffic has dropped significantly since the conflict began. While some data shows a slight recent increase to 10 vessels on a single day, other reports indicate that daily traffic fell from previous averages of 150 to 160 ships to as few as 12 to 24 vessels. Oil flows have also declined, with some data showing a drop to 5 million barrels per day from a pre war average of 20 million.

Regional diplomacy continues as Qatar's prime minister is scheduled to visit Tehran to pursue mediation efforts and discuss freedom of navigation. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has asserted that the strait is under US control and claimed that mines in international waters have been removed, a claim that Iranian officials have dismissed as propaganda. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed skepticism that a diplomatic deal is possible with the Iranian government, voicing support for a US campaign of increased economic pressure.