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Hormuz route deal nears
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped from the “hundred-plus ships a day” that were traversing it before the war, as Iran launched strikes on ships and demanded tolls after the U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28.
“hundred-plus ships a day”
NBC News said it is tracking how many ships pass through the strait, noting that “exact numbers may be higher; some ships manipulate their GPS trackers during transit.”
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said a potential transit route through the Strait could be viable for “between two and four months,” as Tehran reached an agreement with Oman on shipping routes.
Il Sole 24 ORE reported that the agreement is nearing completion with maps of entry and exit routes for maritime traffic, and that a northern Iranian route near the island of Larak and a southern route in Oman’s internal waters would be closed on a temporary basis.
Control, fees, and timelines
RBC-Ukraine, citing Axios, said the U.S., Iran, and Oman are close to an interim agreement that provides for a “60-day temporary arrangement between Oman and Iran, which may be extended.”
That draft, as described by RBC-Ukraine, would route inbound traffic through the northern passage through Iranian waters and outbound traffic through the southern route through Omani waters, while also stating that “no transit fees or other charges will be levied” during the 60-day period.
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Vietnam.vn reported that Iranian state television (IRIB) said negotiations on future maritime traffic mechanisms are being conducted only between Iran and Oman and stressed that these discussions have “no connection to the United States.”
The same Vietnam.vn report said Iran rejected the idea that reopening depends on U.S. action, while also quoting a senior Iranian official’s position that “The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on changing America's behavior and correcting its violations.”
Mine clearance and next steps
RBC-Ukraine said the interim arrangement would require the parties to commit to beginning demining operations on the strait's maritime mine separation zone within 30 days, with the cleared zone later used for inbound and outbound traffic under a permanent agreement to be negotiated between Oman and Iran.
“within 30 days”
NBC News said Tehran has also suggested it may have mined the strait, while it tracked the daily count of vessels passing through the waterway as transits remain ongoing.
Il Sole 24 ORE also reported that the proposed agreement constitutes a new model rather than a continuation of the system used over the last 60 years, taking into account current conditions and the security situation surrounding Iran.
In parallel, Vietnam.vn said Iran would keep the waterway closed until Tehran believes the United States has “stopped its violations,” even if Iran and Oman reach an agreement on vessel transits.
