Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Strait of Hormuz talks seek temporary corridor
Iran and Oman are negotiating a temporary shipping corridor and mine-clearance project in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, but they have not agreed on conditions to reopen the waterway as the Middle East war nears six months.
In talks in Tehran on Tuesday, August 25, the Iranian and Omani foreign ministers discussed a framework agreement for a temporary corridor and mine clearance, according to a joint statement. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said he hoped the corridor and practical arrangements to restore safe navigation would be announced soon, with future management of the strait and a permanent solution to follow later.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that Iran and Oman had agreed in negotiations to share revenue from any fees imposed in the strait, an idea Washington rejects. Media reports said the proposed arrangement would send ships entering the Gulf through Iranian waters and ships leaving through Omani waters, with Tehran retaining oversight.
Tehran is still making full reopening conditional on US concessions. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the United States must implement commitments he said it had breached before any action to reopen the strait. He said the waterway would reopen only in exchange for an end to the war on all fronts, the lifting of the blockade and a resolution of the situation in Yemen.
A mid-June US-Iran memorandum provided for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and left Iran and Oman to define its future administration and maritime services, in discussion with Gulf states and in line with international law. That deal has since fallen apart.
Traffic through the strait remains largely paralysed after Tehran blocked the waterway following US-Israeli attacks that began the war in late February. The route normally carries about one fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Washington has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports and has announced expanded sanctions targeting Iranian sectors and linked entities abroad.
Omani researcher Abdallah Baaboud told AFP the negotiations are slow because they involve sovereignty, jurisdiction, vessel control, possible fees and legal compliance. He said Oman is trying to separate freedom of navigation from the wider conflict while preserving its role as an intermediary with Tehran and its strategic relationship with Washington.
Washington had not responded to the Iran-Oman joint statement. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that the strait is under US control, a claim denied by Tehran, and threatened Oman with bombing if it blocked the US path through the waterway.
Update
Iran and Oman have not yet agreed on the conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though talks are continuing.
A mid-June US-Iran memorandum provided for reopening the strait and left Iran and Oman to define future administration and maritime services, but the deal has since fallen apart.
Media reports described a proposed arrangement under which ships entering the Gulf would pass through Iranian waters and ships leaving would use Omani waters, with Tehran retaining oversight.
Omani researcher Abdallah Baaboud said the talks are slow because they involve sovereignty, jurisdiction, vessel control, possible fees and international law.
Washington had not responded to the Iran-Oman joint statement, while US President Donald Trump has asserted US control over the strait and threatened Oman if it blocked US passage.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 14:13:25 UTC.
Update
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Iran and Oman had agreed to share revenues earned from transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebi said agreements had been made on each country's share in the waters of the strait and in its revenues.
Mohebi said the United States was obstructing work to finalise a deal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 12:43:12 UTC.
Update
Iran Guards said an agreement with Oman on Hormuz includes revenue sharing.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 12:31:56 UTC.
Update
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen before the United States meets Iran's demands.
Gharibabadi said no military vessels from any country would be allowed through the strait.
Washington announced expanded secondary sanctions targeting Iran's digital assets and its technology, gold, aviation and shipping sectors.
Gharibabadi said Iran would target US minesweepers entering the area.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 August 2026 at 04:34:52 UTC.
Update
Oman's foreign minister said he hoped to announce a temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor soon.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 16:39:05 UTC.
Update
US President Donald Trump claimed, citing the US navy, that all mines had been removed or detonated from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said Iran had been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines would be destroyed and described a zero-tolerance policy on mine placement.
The joint statement said technical talks would cover a permanent corridor, future administration of the strait, information-sharing, traffic management and navigational and security services.
Iran and Oman said joint discussions with Gulf coastal states were important.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 16:21:55 UTC.
Update
Iran and Oman said their ministers discussed a joint project to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
The joint statement said technical negotiations for a permanent solution would continue.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:50:11 UTC.
Update
Iran and Oman said they discussed a temporary navigational corridor in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:42:32 UTC.
Update
Iran and Oman said they discussed a mine-clearing project in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:43:04 UTC.
Update
Iran's foreign ministry said Oman's foreign minister met Iran's foreign minister in Tehran on Tuesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 15:29:21 UTC.
Update
Iran's foreign ministry said Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Monday.
No further details of the meeting were immediately announced.
Tehran says the geographical coordinates of a route envisaged by Iran and Oman have been agreed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 14:53:40 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The timing and final terms of any temporary corridor have not been agreed.
The future permanent administration of the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved.
The outlets behind the reported routing arrangement are not identified.
Washington had not responded to the Iran-Oman joint statement at the time described.
Source
AFP news report published on .