Iran and Oman in talks over Hormuz Strait shipping toll plan

Iran and Oman are moving towards an agreement on how to manage traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz without American involvement, according to reporting from the New York Times. Under the proposed arrangement, vessels passing through the narrow waterway would be subject to oversight by both nations, with shipping companies required to pay “service fees” to transit safely through the passage.

The strait, which lies between Oman and Iran at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. Roughly one-third of all seaborne traded oil passes through the 21-mile-wide channel, making it essential to global energy security. Any disruption to traffic or imposition of new fees could have significant implications for international trade and oil prices.

The reported agreement would represent a significant shift in the region’s geopolitical balance, potentially reducing American influence over one of the Middle East’s most strategically important chokepoints. An American official stated that under the arrangement, shipping companies would not be required to pay fees directly to Tehran, though the exact mechanics of how payments would be structured remain unclear.

The development comes after US President Donald Trump pledged yesterday that shipping traffic through the strait would resume normally. Trump’s administration has previously emphasised the importance of keeping vital shipping lanes open and free from disruption. The reported Iranian-Omani negotiations suggest that regional powers may be seeking to establish their own framework for managing the strait independent of Washington’s input.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.