The Saudi Al-Arabiya channel reported today (Tuesday) from its sources that an official announcement is expected to be published within hours or tomorrow regarding arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to vessel traffic. It was also claimed that the talks on the subject are underway “at full speed” and that significant progress has been made. At this stage, the report has no confirmation from another independent source.
The report comes against the backdrop of publications in recent days according to which Iran and Oman are advancing a plan to regulate traffic in the Strait, one of the world’s strategic shipping lanes through which a significant portion of global oil supplies pass. According to reports, the emerging plan includes the division of shipping lanes between the Iranian and Omani coasts, along with a new mechanism for regulating transit. At the same time, there are disputes over the nature of the arrangement. While Tehran has claimed that a “service fee” will be charged for securing the vessels and dealing with the environmental consequences, US officials have denied that any future arrangement would allow Iran to collect payments or require vessels to obtain its permission to pass.
In recent days, President Donald Trump has also addressed the issue, saying that the opening of the strait may happen soon, while emphasizing that from Washington’s perspective, any agreement must guarantee full freedom of navigation and not give Iran control over an international waterway. Meanwhile, reports of security incidents and attacks on vessels continue in the region, illustrating that tensions in the Gulf have not subsided.