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Iran is considering allowing vessels to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz from the Omani side, as part of proposals discussed in negotiations with the United States, Reuters reports citing a source close to Tehran.
The condition for this move would be a broader agreement aimed at preventing a renewed escalation of conflict in the region, the source said.
According to the report, Iran could permit unhindered maritime traffic through waters on the Omani side of the narrow strait, while key unresolved issues remain—particularly whether Tehran would dismantle any naval mines it may have deployed and whether all ships, including those linked to Israel, would be granted passage.
The proposal is still conditional and depends on Washington’s willingness to meet Tehran’s demands, which Iranian officials reportedly see as essential for any breakthrough.
The idea of allowing traffic through the Omani-side shipping corridor had been previously discussed but has not yet received an official response from the United States.
The Strait of Hormuz—only about 34 km wide at its narrowest point—connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and remains one of the world’s most important energy routes, handling roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows.
Iran’s proposal would effectively mark a partial return to the long-standing international shipping arrangement based on a UN-approved traffic separation scheme established in 1968, which divides shipping lanes between Iranian and Omani waters.
The report comes amid continued tensions following disruptions to energy shipments through the region, with hundreds of vessels reportedly affected during recent instability. A temporary ceasefire has held since early April, but control over maritime access remains a central issue in ongoing negotiations.
