Proposed Hormuz deal would give Iran control of inbound traffic: sources
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to end five months of war between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian source and two regional officials who spoke to Reuters. The arrangement, described as one of the largest concessions yet to Iran, would also mark a significant shift from the pre-war status of the strait as an open international waterway with no fees.
The United States did not immediately comment on the proposal. President Donald Trump has said a deal to reopen the strait is imminent, but U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world’s most important energy trade route. An agreement that gives Iran any control over access to the strait would mean the conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli military action in February, has resulted in a major shift in regional power in Tehran’s favour.
Iranian officials reported “significant progress” in the talks with Oman, which is mediating the negotiations. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the arrangement was “designed in such a way that commercial ships will pass through Iranian territorial waters, both on the inbound and outbound legs of their journey.” He added that the talks with Oman had “reached fundamental understandings” and that “the progress is on the verge of being finalised.”
However, the sources cautioned that significant issues remain unresolved. One regional source said the concession on some form of control over Hormuz had already been made, but details still needed to be determined about how “control” would be defined. Gulf negotiators are insisting that regional countries supervise inspections of ships, and that any payment of fees be voluntary. The senior Iranian source said the text of the agreement currently on the table envisions Iran having control of ships heading into the Gulf, with a key sticking point being what role Iran would play over ships heading in the opposite direction.
Mr. Gharibabadi said Iran had received messages from the United States indicating that Washington was “fully prepared to return to its commitments” under a mid-June memorandum of understanding that provided for an immediate cessation of military operations. He described this as a condition for reopening the strait, but said it was not sufficient in itself. No direct talks between Iran and the United States have been held in recent days.
Mr. Trump, who at the start of the war said it would end with Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and that he would approve the choice of Iran’s leader, is under pressure to find a way out of a conflict that U.S. voters oppose by a two-to-one margin ahead of the November midterm elections. Months of U.S. military efforts, including a two-week campaign of strikes in July, have not broken Iran’s grip on the strait. U.S. commanders advised Mr. Trump in July that they were running low on supplies of some munitions. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the U.S. Army had used up nearly all of its long-range precision missiles.
Crude oil prices have fallen sharply over the past two days after Mr. Trump called off fresh attacks on Iran, citing ongoing negotiations. Prices edged lower again on Wednesday, although losses were capped by a maritime embargo declared by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Saudi ports and vessels, heightening risks to shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis said on Wednesday they had launched missile attacks on Saudi oil tankers off the coast of the port city of Yanbu.
