Iran has announced that it achieved progress during recent negotiations with Oman regarding the operational mechanisms required to guarantee the safe transit of vessels through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Despite the ongoing discussions, officials emphasized that there has been no actual change in the current maritime traffic flow through the waterway.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed on Sunday that deputy foreign ministers from both Iran and Oman held multiple rounds of talks in Tehran throughout Friday and Saturday. According to reports from the semi-official Farsnews agency, Baqaei characterized the meetings as productive, noting that the delegations successfully exchanged views on common principles and technical frameworks for maritime safety. While the Omani delegation departed Tehran on Saturday evening, Baqaei stated that both technical and political consultations between the two nations remain ongoing.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained a focal point of regional security concerns since the commencement of a military campaign against Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026. Although Washington and Tehran had previously entered into a memorandum of understanding in June—which included a ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Pakistan—US President Donald Trump declared that agreement over on July 8 following a period of renewed escalation.
The diplomatic friction centers on competing demands: the United States has insisted that Iran cease attacks on commercial shipping and provide guarantees for freedom of navigation. Conversely, Iran maintains that vessel transits must be governed by a mechanism that it administers along its own coastline. Recent reports citing sources familiar with the situation indicate that President Trump has directed the US military to halt new strikes on Iran, effectively ending a period of nearly two weeks marked by daily military actions.
