Oman‑Iran talks progress, but Iran warns Strait won’t open soon

Oman has said positive talks have been taking place with Iran about a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran has warned that any agreement would not see an immediate reopening of the vital waterway.

Both sides said on Saturday that negotiations are progressing, though the timeline for a final deal remains unclear. Oman’s foreign ministry also cautioned against attacks on shipping that could hamper progress.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks were in their final stages, but reopening the strait would depend on “other conditions” and on compensation Tehran expects from the United States for breaches of a June Memorandum of Understanding that fell apart after renewed hostilities.

The strait, through which one‑fifth of global oil and gas flows, has been effectively blocked by Tehran since February when US‑Israeli attacks began. A joint‑route plan between Iran and Oman would give both states responsibility for a new corridor, potentially easing shipping traffic.

Iran-backed Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports on 20 July, while India‑flagged ships have been struck by projectiles off Yemen’s coast.

United States officials have weighed in. President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran “could be soon,” yet Vice‑President JD Vance highlighted that “work remains to be done” and that the U.S. is applying a “host of” diplomatic, economic and military tools to secure a traffic scheme for safe passage.

Incidents reported by the UAE’s foreign ministry and the UK’s UKMTO highlight the volatility of the region, with a missile strike on an ADNOC tanker and an unknown projectile hitting a ship near Oman, though no casualties were reported.