Oman, Iran, benefiting from lull in US strikes, approach deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz - report

Oman and Iran have accelerated diplomatic maneuvers to reopen commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, creating a potential short-term fix amid a slowdown in fighting between Washington and Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Over the weekend, Oman and Iran reportedly crafted the terms of an agreement which would allow ships to pass safely through the waterway.The proposal presented to Iran included a joint regional mechanism to manage the Strait with voluntary fees, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a Gulf source.The negotiations, according to the WSJ, were narrowly focused on shipping and not meant to put a full stop to the conflict. Mediators instead hoped that a temporary agreement on the contentious shipping issue would cool tempers and ultimately lead to more advanced talks, the report added. Iran and Oman are still far from reaching an agreement on some aspects of the situation, including whether to charge transit fees, mediators and one US official told the WSJ. While the US has not been involved in the talks, Oman has reportedly kept American officials informed.Iran-Oman talks began after US announced halt in strikesAccording to the report, Oman sent a delegation to Tehran on Friday, the same night that US President Donald Trump ordered a halt to attacks on Iran after almost two weeks of nightly strikes on Iranian military capabilities.Omani officials reportedly proposed establishing a collaborative effort to oversee maritime security, search-and-rescue operations, and other necessary functions in the Strait of Hormuz. One official familiar with the matter told the WSJ that the joint Omani-Iranian operations would be funded voluntarily by regional countries and the shipping and oil industries.Iran is reportedly engaging with the proposal, but remains insistent on maintaining control over the strait and collecting fees in exchange for allowing safe passage. Both the US and Oman have opposed the imposition of compulsory tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.Iranian, Saudi, Omani foreign ministers discussed Hormuz stabilityOn Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that he had held separate phone calls with the foreign ministers of Oman and Saudi Arabia on Monday.Araghchi claimed the Saudi and Omani foreign ministers emphasized the importance of advancing diplomatic efforts to achieve stability in the region and ending instability in the Strait of Hormuz.