In a significant development, Iran has proposed permitting vessels to transit freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without threat of attack, contingent on reaching an agreement with the United States to avoid renewed hostilities. This proposal emerges amid ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict that has severely disrupted global oil and gas shipments.
The conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has caused the largest disruption ever recorded in energy supplies, as Iran has impeded maritime traffic through the strait, a critical chokepoint responsible for about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Since the war’s outbreak on February 28, hundreds of tankers and other vessels, along with approximately 20,000 seafarers, have been stranded within the Gulf region.
A ceasefire lasting two weeks began on April 8, and U.S. President Donald Trump recently indicated that the war was nearing its end. However, control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a pivotal issue in the ongoing talks. A source familiar with Tehran’s position, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that Iran might allow unrestricted passage through the Omani waters on the strait’s opposite side without interference.
The source did not clarify whether Iran would remove any naval mines possibly deployed in that area or if vessels associated with Israel would be permitted free transit. The acceptance of this proposal depends heavily on whether Washington is willing to fulfill Tehran’s demands, a key factor for any potential resolution concerning the strait.
Neither the White House nor Iran’s Foreign Ministry has provided immediate comments on the proposal. Meanwhile, a Western security official confirmed that the idea of unhindered passage through Omani waters has been under consideration, though it remains unclear if the U.S. has responded.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway only 34 kilometers (21 miles) wide between Iran and Oman, connects the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and serves as a vital route for energy exports from the Middle East, as well as other essential commodities like fertilizers.
This offer marks Tehran’s first visible attempt to retreat from more aggressive proposals recently suggested, such as imposing fees on ships passing through the international waterway or asserting sovereignty over the strait—measures widely viewed by the global shipping community as unprecedented and in violation of maritime law. During a meeting in London this week, member states of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization opposed Iran’s toll proposal, warning it would establish a dangerous precedent.
Furthermore, Iran’s suggestion represents an initial step toward reinstating the longstanding status quo governing navigation through the strait. Since 1968, a two-way traffic separation scheme, agreed upon by regional countries and endorsed by the U.N.’s shipping agency, has regulated vessel routing by dividing corridors through Iranian and Omani waters.
Notably, the U.S. recently imposed a blockade on oil shipments departing Iranian ports as of Monday, and overall maritime traffic in the area has remained subdued since the conflict began in late February.
