TEHRAN/MUSCAT — Iran and Oman have finalized details for new entry and exit shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, with plans to brief regional Gulf nations during an upcoming summit in Muscat on Monday, Iranian officials confirmed Saturday.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to the negotiation team, the bilateral understanding follows “intensive technical and diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman, which culminated in a final agreement in late August.”
Under the proposed framework, the primary entry route into the Gulf will lie entirely within Iranian territorial waters, while a portion of the designated exit corridor will also traverse Iranian territory.
Official sources emphasized that maritime traffic will operate strictly under Iranian oversight. Once operational, the waterway’s existing southern route will be closed—countering persistent demands from the United States to keep southern lanes open.
“This arrangement does not signify a general reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” the source clarified, noting Tehran has submitted seven specific prerequisites to Washington before full access can be restored.
Officials reiterated that unrestricted passage remains contingent on U.S. compliance with these conditions and overall diplomatic posture.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei formally announced that foreign ministers from across the Gulf littoral states are scheduled to convene in Oman on Monday. The conference will focus on regional security, with dedicated sessions to detail the Iranian-Omani maritime transit system.
In statements to Al Jazeera on Saturday, Baghaei expressed optimism for high-level participation, expecting delegation leaders from Gulf states, Iran, and Iraq.
“As part of our agenda, we will brief participating delegations on joint consultations regarding safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baghaei stated, highlighting the responsibility shared by both nations as the primary coastal stewards of the strait.
The upcoming briefing follows a joint declaration late last month outlining a phased framework to establish a temporary managed shipping corridor across the waterway.
Navigational restrictions were initially enacted by Tehran following joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran on February 28. In response, U.S. forces established a naval blockade targeting commercial traffic bound for or departing from Iranian ports.
Connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global chokepoint for international energy supplies. Occupying opposing coastlines, Oman and Iran maintain ongoing bilateral dialogue to manage maritime security and navigational protocols across the strategic passage.
