Iran-Oman Agreement Could Grant Tehran Control Over Strait of Hormuz, Sources Say
Iranian and Omani officials are negotiating a deal that would allow Iran to manage ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting concerns from the United States and commercial interests.
Iranian state media reported that a pending agreement with Oman would let Iran oversee vessels entering the Strait of Hormuz through Iranian waters and exiting through Omani waters for a defined period. Industry sources told Reuters that the arrangement would effectively give Tehran control over inbound traffic and shared management of outbound traffic with Oman, along with fees for insurance, fuel and environmental services that function as tolls.
The terms contrast with a Saudi media claim that the deal does not include transit fees. Iran’s leadership views the strait as a core element of its security strategy, according to an op-ed on the Supreme Leader’s website, and former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged Tehran to use the waterway as leverage in negotiations with the United States.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an incident on August 5 in which a vessel’s crew heard two explosions while navigating Omani waters, an event Tehran has previously linked to its efforts to assert authority over the route.
Regional analysts note that Iran’s pursuit of control could serve as a deterrent against adversaries and generate revenue, while also raising the risk of heightened tensions with the United States and global commercial shipping interests.