Iran and Oman moving toward partial agreement on Hormuz, but Tehran sets conditions for Washington

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that negotiations with Oman on a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz have reached a turning point. According to Araghchi, the two sides are “very close” to a technical agreement that would allow limited passage through the strait, which has been effectively closed on the Iranian side since fighting with the United States and Israel began in late February 2026.

The minister was careful to point out, however, that any agreement with Muscat does not amount to a full reopening of the sea route. Technical and legal changes to the routes, he explained, are a different matter from ending the blockade: the latter would remain contingent on other factors, including compensation from the United States for damages caused by the conflict. There are currently no direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington: Oman continues to act as an intermediary, a role the country has played for years in relations between Iran and the West.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategic passage points on the planet for oil and gas transport, and its partial closure has already weighed on the region’s trade flows. Even a purely technical agreement with Oman would open a limited window, without resolving the main sticking point in the conflict between Tehran and Washington.

Araghchi’s statement comes as Iran continues to demand economic compensation as a precondition for any normalization of relations with the United States. Based on the information available, it is not clear what amount Tehran would consider acceptable, nor whether Washington is willing to discuss it. The two available sources, both based on statements from the same Iranian minister, do not report a US position in response.

It remains to be seen what time frame is being negotiated for the provisional route and whether the agreement with Oman covers only commercial traffic or other categories of vessels as well.