Oman and Iran are working towards a gradual restoration of safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A temporary navigation corridor and joint mine-clearing operations are to be the first steps in this process.
The two countries held talks in Tehran to discuss a framework for the gradual resumption of safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz . This was announced by both states following consultations between the Omani Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.
The proposed framework initially provides for the establishment of a joint temporary navigation corridor through the strait. Furthermore, both countries intend to implement a joint mine-clearance project.
The talks focused on the resumption of safe navigation whilst respecting the sovereignty and sovereign rights of both states, according to the joint statement. Given the current situation, the framework could provide a “practical and workable basis” for further steps.
Technical negotiations are then intended to lead to a permanent solution. This involves a permanent shipping corridor and the future management of the Strait of Hormuz. Mechanisms for the exchange of information, traffic management, and navigation and safety services are also to be developed.
Oman and Iran also intend to involve other Gulf states in the consultations. Both sides simultaneously emphasised the importance of applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states.
Following the talks, Oman’s Foreign Minister Albusaidi expressed confidence that a first step could be taken in the near future. He hoped that both states would “soon be able to announce a temporary corridor for the Strait of Hormuz and practical arrangements to restore safe shipping”. A permanent solution and arrangements for the future management of the strait are to follow.
The Strait of Hormuz has been largely disrupted for international shipping since the war began at the end of February. Before the conflict, around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and LNG volumes were transported through the strait.
Actual shipping traffic remains well below previous levels. According to preliminary data from the analytics firm Kpler, only five recorded commodity vessels passed through the strait on Tuesday. The average over the previous ten days was 15 vessels. Among the five vessels were two LPG tankers and a bitumen tanker heading out of the Gulf, as well as two empty product tankers travelling in the opposite direction. As some ships switch off their AIS signals whilst passing through, the actual figures may be higher.
Iran is currently granting special permits to individual ships for passage. Most recently, Tehran allowed several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through following discussions with Baghdad.“I am confident that we will soon be able to announce a temporary corridor for the Strait of Hormuz, as well as practical arrangements to restore safe shipping,” Sayyid Badr stated in a post on the social media platform ‘X’. He said he had held constructive talks with his counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran.“The future management of the strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course, as provided for in Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum. Discussions are being held with regional partners to support peace and cooperation, stability and freedom of navigation,” he added.
However, an agreement between Oman and Iran is unlikely to automatically lead to a normalisation of traffic. Tehran continues to make the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz contingent on concessions from the US. These include, in particular, the lifting of the American blockade of Iranian ports and of oil sanctions. The US had imposed the naval blockade in the wake of the conflict.
Market observers therefore also see significant political hurdles remaining. According to ING Economics, oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to return to normal until, in addition to an agreement on shipping, the conflict over the US blockade and the sanctions has been defused.
The exact location of the mines also remains unclear. US President Donald Trump statedon Tuesday that, according to the US Navy, all mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz had been removed or destroyed. At the same time, the framework being discussed by Oman and Iran explicitly provides for a joint mine-clearance project.