DUBAI/RIYADH: A proposed agreement between Iran and Oman could give Tehran authority over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian source and two regional officials on August 5.
The development is being seen as one of the most significant concessions made to Iran so far in ongoing negotiations.
Even with this apparent progress, the same sources dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal to reopen the strait was close. They indicated that several key issues remain unresolved and require further discussion.
“The concession has already been made regarding some form of control over Hormuz,” one regional official said.
Another regional source explained that there is still no clear agreement on what “control” would actually mean in practice. Gulf negotiators are pushing for a system in which countries in the region oversee ship inspections while ensuring that any fees charged to vessels remain voluntary.
The senior Iranian source stated that a draft agreement already under discussion includes provisions allowing Iran to oversee ships entering the Gulf via the strait. However, one major unresolved issue is whether Iran would also have authority over vessels traveling in the opposite direction.
There was no immediate response from Washington regarding these details of the proposed arrangement.
U.S. officials have consistently maintained that they would not accept any deal that allows Iran to control access to the Strait of Hormuz, which is considered the most critical global route for energy shipments. Despite this position, Trump and senior members of his administration have recently suggested that an agreement could soon be reached to bring an end to the conflict that began in February, a war that opinion polls indicate is unpopular among most American voters.
Although direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington are not taking place, Iran has been holding talks with Oman, which controls the opposite side of the strait. Iran rejected an earlier proposal from Oman last week, arguing that it did not provide Tehran with sufficient influence.
Trump said in an interview that discussions were progressing well and described the negotiations as extensive, noting that they had continued throughout August 4.
He also expressed confidence that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen soon and warned that any reversal could lead to serious consequences.
Meanwhile, on August 5, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for another attack on a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea. The strike is part of their ongoing effort to enforce what they describe as a blockade of Saudi oil shipments along a route that serves as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
