Despite the remaining differences, U.S. officials signaled growing optimism on Tuesday that negotiations are moving in the right direction.
By United with Israel Staff
Iran and Oman are reportedly close to reaching an agreement to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, marking the strongest sign yet of progress toward ending months of disruption to one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. However, significant disagreements remain over the proposed terms, underscoring that a final deal has yet to be reached.
According to The New York Times, citing Iranian and U.S. officials familiar with the negotiations, the emerging framework would reopen the strategic waterway while allowing both Iran and Oman to collect a “service fee” to cover environmental protection and maritime security costs.
Under the reported proposal, vessels entering the Strait of Hormuz from the Indian Ocean would travel through Iranian territorial waters, while ships exiting the Persian Gulf would use a shipping lane closer to Oman’s coastline.
A U.S. official, however, disputed Iran’s characterization of the discussions, telling the newspaper that Tehran’s description of the proposed agreement was “not accurate.” The official insisted Iran would not collect tolls, determine which vessels may transit the strait, or control international shipping routes, highlighting the gap that still separates the two sides.
The developments come after months of negotiations involving Iran, Oman, and the United States following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war earlier this year. The closure disrupted roughly 20% of global oil shipments, sending energy prices sharply higher and raising fears of a prolonged economic crisis.
Despite the remaining differences, U.S. officials signaled growing optimism on Tuesday that negotiations are moving in the right direction.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “progress in talks, but not finality yet,” explaining that the immediate priority is restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz before turning to broader negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Rubio said Iran and Oman are leading the discussions with U.S. involvement, describing the Hormuz talks as a first step toward a wider diplomatic framework.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent struck an even more optimistic tone, saying earlier Tuesday that the United States could reach an agreement with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz as early as Wednesday.
The latest developments represent a notable shift from the weekend, when President Donald Trump said he had canceled what he described as a “massive” U.S. strike against Iran—one he claimed would have been “the biggest attack since World War II”—after Iran and several Gulf states requested additional time for diplomacy.
Trump has since maintained that negotiations with Tehran are underway and has warned Iran that it faces a “last chance” to reach an agreement. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have continued publicly denying that direct negotiations with Washington are taking place, insisting their talks are limited to Oman and focus solely on arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
While momentum appears to be building toward reopening the strategic waterway, the conflicting accounts over Iran’s authority in the strait suggest key details remain unresolved, leaving broader efforts to stabilize the region dependent on whether the two sides can bridge those remaining differences.
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