Iran rejects Omani proposal for shared control of Strait of Hormuz

Iran has rejected an Omani proposal for equal control of shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from Iranian state media. The deputy foreign minister announced the decision on Wednesday, stating that Tehran had turned down the initiative the previous day. Instead, Iran is demanding that one shipping lane pass entirely through Iranian territorial waters, with parts of a second lane also running through Iranian territory.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with roughly one-third of all seaborne traded oil passing through its waters. The strategic waterway separates Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and has been a flashpoint for regional tensions, particularly between Iran and Western powers.

The Iranian rejection comes as the US military reported repositioning 18 commercial vessels in the region as part of ongoing naval operations in the area. This move underscores the heightened military posture maintained by Western forces in the Gulf, which has been a persistent source of friction with Tehran. The Omani proposal had apparently sought a compromise arrangement that would have allowed for shared maritime security responsibilities in the contested waters.

Iran’s insistence on exclusive control of additional shipping lanes reflects its broader assertion of sovereignty over the waterway and its strategic importance to regional security. The stance signals Tehran’s unwillingness to accept international mediation on what it views as a matter of national territorial integrity.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.