Iran and Oman reach agreement on Strait of Hormuz shipping routes

Iran and Oman have reached a landmark agreement regarding shipping routes and a navigation map for the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement aims to establish a coordinated framework for vessel traffic through the critical maritime chokepoint, which has faced disruptions due to hostilities between the United States and Iran since February 2026.

While some technical issues remain under discussion, the deal could facilitate the reopening of the strait to commercial shipping, subject to approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The waterway is vital to global energy security, previously facilitating the transit of approximately 21 million barrels of oil per day.

Iranian military leadership has asserted that United States forces no longer have rights of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, or the Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that while American forces maintain control of the strait, passage has remained closed specifically to vessels destined for Iran.