Iran says deal in the final stages to open temporary, narrow path through Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON — Iran claims a new deal with neighboring Oman could partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz — but the proposed arrangement would only create a temporary, limited corridor while leaving Tehran with significant control over the world’s most important oil chokepoint.Iranian state media said Thursday that Tehran is “in the final stages” of confirming a temporary shipping arrangement with Oman that would create a limited new shipping lane through the center of the strait — after President Trump this week ordered the waterway reopened.Under the proposal, commercial ships would no longer use the existing traffic lanes running along Iran and Oman’s coastlines.Instead, vessels would be routed through a narrow central corridor jointly managed by Iran and Oman — giving Tehran a role in controlling traffic through the strategic waterway.The proposed corridor would replace the current system, which allows ships to transit through separate lanes hugging Iran’s coastline and Oman’s shores.
The US-backed route along Oman’s coastline has been opposed by Tehran and has been targeted in previous attacks blamed on Iran-backed forces.The traffic would pass through the central corridor without fees for two to four months while Tehran and Muscat negotiate a longer-term agreement — including whether Iran can impose transit charges on vessels using the waterway, according to Iranian media.The US continues to insist no fees may be implemented to access the strait.“Any temporary routes will be without any impediments — meaning no approvals or permissions and no tolls or charges,” a US official told The Post on Thursday.“The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them.”Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told the state-owned IRNA news agency on Thursday that the new arrangement would give Tehran more control over the strait.
“This understanding … represents ...