US and Iran negotiate temporary reopening of Strait of Hormuz amid threats
US, Iran and Oman are close to finalising a draft deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran insisting on some control over traffic, while Tehran warns of retaliation against regional energy infrastructure if the US resumes strikes.
Negotiations between the United States, Iran and Oman are nearing completion on a draft agreement that would temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route. Gulf officials said a concession has been made that would allow Iran some form of control over the strait, though details on how that control would be defined remain unresolved. The draft, prepared by Iran and Oman, is awaiting final approval from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Under the proposed arrangement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf via a route overseen by Iran and exit through a route managed by Oman, with service fees collected from transiting vessels. The talks are presented as a stop-gap measure that could pave the way for renewed US-Iran negotiations on the nuclear program.
Iran has warned Gulf states that any renewed US strike on Iranian territory would trigger attacks on “critical energy infrastructure across the region,” a threat reportedly conveyed after President Donald Trump threatened to target Iranian facilities. Tehran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the geographic parameters of the routes have been agreed upon, but cautioned that the agreement does not guarantee safety.
US officials have indicated that the deal could be finalized within days, with President Trump stating that a decision would be known within 48 hours. However, no official announcement has been made, and a senior Gulf official suggested a 50-50 chance the agreement will be reached by Friday.
Iranian officials told Qatar’s Al Jazeera that only one or two issues remain unresolved and that the reopening of the strait depends on US actions. Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which controls much of the country’s decision-making, is expected to give final approval to any agreement.
The negotiations occur against a backdrop of concern that renewed hostilities could endanger regional oil and energy facilities, prompting Gulf states to seek a diplomatic solution to the dispute that has previously seen Iran block the strait and demand transit fees.