Iran says it has reached Hormuz shipping route agreement with Oman

Iran has announced that it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, but cautioned that the pact alone will not guarantee safe passage due to what Tehran describes as a US naval blockade of its ports.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters that the route's "geographical coordinates" had been agreed with Oman, and that the deal was "in the final stages". He did not provide further details. The US and Oman have not commented on the proposal.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is a critical artery for global energy supplies, carrying roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. Since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February, Tehran has largely restricted traffic through the strait, leading to volatility in global oil prices.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be "hit very hard" if the strait did not open "very soon". His remarks followed reports from senior US officials that talks had progressed and shipments could potentially resume later this week. Iran, however, has maintained that it is not negotiating with the US and has no plans to do so.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi later told the state news agency Irna that the new route would be temporary, potentially remaining open for two to four months. He did not elaborate.

Since the conflict began, Iran has required all vessels to obtain clearance before crossing the strait and has attacked ships that ignored the order. A key sticking point has been Tehran's threat to impose fees on vessels wishing to transit the waterway. On Wednesday, Iranian officials did not say whether this issue was part of the talks with Oman.

In June, Iran and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the strait, and reaching a comprehensive agreement within 60 days. That deal collapsed within days, and tit-for-tat attacks resumed.

The US has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the region, while Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have imposed a blockade on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports since 20 July.

The situation remains tense, with no immediate signs of a broader breakthrough. The proposed route with Oman, if implemented, could offer a temporary channel for shipping, but the underlying political and security disputes remain unresolved.