WANA (Aug 04) – Negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz have entered a new phase, despite persistent interference and obstruction from the United States, according to an informed source speaking on Tuesday.

 

The source noted that discussions between Iran and Oman concerning the upcoming arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz initiated in the early days following the April 8 ceasefire and gained significant momentum following the June 18 war termination agreement.

 

Iran has seriously pursued its commitments under Clause 5 of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) through consultations with Oman and dialogues with other regional states. While the agreement was anticipated to yield results within the projected 30-day timeframe outlined in Clause 5, intervention by the United States and obstruction by certain regional countries disrupted the progress.

 

However, for over two weeks, negotiations with the Omani delegation have advanced into a fresh phase. A bilateral Iran-Oman agreement remains achievable provided that U.S. intervention and external interference cease.

 

The primary objective of these negotiations is to reach an agreement on a new corridor that guarantees the sovereign rights and security considerations of Iran as a coastal state affected by abuses of the waterway by the United States and its allies. This proposed central corridor aims to facilitate safe transit through the Strait; once operational, both the existing northern and southern maritime routes will be suspended.

 

The source emphasized that these talks are strictly bilateral between the two coastal states and do not involve outside parties, including the United States. Nevertheless, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly attempted to intervene to project influence over the process.

 

According to the source, Trump is seeking to craft a political narrative for the U.S. domestic audience, attempting to demonstrate that threats and ultimatums have impacted the negotiations. Despite these efforts, U.S. involvement has consistently yielded negative effects and slowed the pace of talks, as Iran does not align its national interests or priorities with Trump’s timelines or demands.

 

The source added that Trump has breached commitments, but Iran has pushed forward—and will continue to advance—its plan for managing arrangements in the Strait independent of U.S. threats.

 

It is worth noting that the established official transit corridor in the Strait of Hormuz has been located within Oman’s territorial waters since 1968, a setup to which Iran previously raised no objections. However, developments over the past five months—specifically the exploitation of the waterway by the U.S. and its regional allies to conduct strikes against Iran—have reshaped Tehran’s stance.

 

Iran remains determined to establish new transit arrangements that fully secure its sovereign rights, national interests, and defense priorities.