Iran negotiates temporary Strait of Hormuz corridor with Oman amid US blockade

Iran’s foreign ministry said it is in talks with Oman to create a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz that could last from one to three months. An Iranian negotiator stated the arrangement would place Iran in a dominant position, while the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson clarified that the plan involves a single middle route rather than two separate corridors.

The United States reimposed a naval blockade last month after a cease-fire memorandum collapsed. U.S. Central Command reported that, under the blockade, 44 commercial vessels were redirected, two were disabled and two were boarded.

In the same period, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, the MV Minoan Pioneer, was struck by an unknown projectile about 23 miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, causing a total electrical blackout and prompting a distress call. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also reported another vessel hit in the strait, though the responsible party was not identified.

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said the war has removed roughly 2.6 billion barrels of crude from global supplies and that current oil flows through the strait are about one-tenth of pre-conflict levels. He warned that each week the passage remains closed could cost the world more than 100 million barrels of crude.

Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaei told state television that Iran will not allow any route other than the one it negotiates with Oman and accused Washington of violating the June memorandum by opening a southern corridor. He called for the United States to honor its commitments and cease actions that increase insecurity in the strait.

The ongoing conflict has also seen attacks on desalination plants and other infrastructure in southern Iran, prompting warnings from regional experts about the humanitarian impact of further strikes during extreme summer heat.