Oman said on Saturday that constructive talks have been taking place with Iran on an agreement to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran cautioned that any deal would not immediately reopen the vital waterway.
Officials from both sides indicated that discussions were advancing, but no clear timeline has been set for finalising an accord, BBC reports.
Oman’s foreign ministry underscored the need to prevent attacks on shipping that could disrupt traffic in the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the negotiations as being in their final stages, while stressing that reopening the strait remained “subject to other conditions.”
Tehran has effectively blocked the passage since February, when US and Israeli forces began launching attacks in the area. The strait normally carries about one‑fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies.
Recent talks have centred on a possible arrangement between Iran and Oman to establish a new route through the strait, jointly managed by both countries, with the aim of restoring shipping activity.
Araghchi, however, said a full reopening of the busy maritime corridor depended on conditions that Iran insists must be met. He briefly outlined these, including compensation from the United States for what Tehran calls violations of a June Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to halt hostilities and advance peace talks.
That MoU collapsed within days, as diplomatic efforts faltered and tit‑for‑tat attacks resumed, derailing hopes of ending the conflict.
Iran’s security chief Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States “corrects” its behaviour, according to remarks published by the semi‑official Tasnim news agency.
Zolqadr outlined six demands that Tehran insists Washington must meet, including halting threats against Iran, lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and releasing frozen Iranian assets.
Separately, another blockade has been imposed on Saudi ports in the Red Sea since 20 July by Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi forces.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump suggested that a deal with Iran “could be soon.” But Vice‑President JD Vance struck a more cautious note on Saturday, telling Fox News that while progress was being made, “we’re really in the middle of the game here. This thing is not over.”
Vance said Washington was applying “a whole host of tools — diplomatic, economic [and] military tools — to ensure that we get the best outcome for the American people.”
He also claimed that the “same amount of oil” would emerge from the Gulf as before the US military operation began on 28 February, though he offered no details.
He added that current efforts were focused on “how you can actually set up a traffic scheme so that the ships can pass through safely.”
One of the key sticking points between Tehran and Washington has been Iran’s reported plan to impose fees on vessels crossing the strait.
Reuters, citing an Iranian official, previously reported that Tehran was seeking charges of between 5% and 7% of cargo value from ships transiting the waterway. Vance said, “The Iranians have told us they have no plans to toll the Strait of Hormuz.”
Oman, which has been mediating talks, reiterated its warning against attacks on shipping in the strait. The caution came as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accused Iran of targeting a tanker operated by Adnoc, its state‑owned oil company, as it passed through.
The UAE foreign ministry said in a statement that a “hostile Iranian attack” struck the vessel “with a missile,” but confirmed there were no casualties.
