The negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the reopening of the Hormuz Strait have reached a critical stage.
On August 5, Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, announced at a press conference that Iran and Oman have agreed on the geographical characteristics of shipping routes within the Hormuz Strait. The main points include Iran exercising control over vessels entering the strait, while both Iran and Oman will jointly control vessels exiting the strait.
Baghaei stated that the two countries are preparing a joint announcement, provided that a 'specific third party' does not intervene in the process. The Iranian government is also exchanging views with officials from Pakistan and Qatar, who initially mediated negotiations with the United States. According to Reuters, sources indicate that Oman and Iran have yet to finalize details, suggesting that the reopening of the Hormuz Strait may take more time.
Analysts suggest that Iran's goal in the negotiations with Oman is to prohibit military operations against itself within the strait. Ali Akbar Dareini, a researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies, noted that while the talks have made progress toward a long-term framework for managing shipping routes in the Hormuz Strait, it is significant that Iran will control vessels entering the strait, while both countries will jointly control those exiting. He anticipates that Iran intends to prohibit the transport of U.S. military weapons through the Hormuz Strait in the future.
Meanwhile, opinions are divided regarding the potential reopening of the Hormuz Strait, which was initially mentioned by President Donald Trump. On August 4, Trump told reporters that negotiations with Iran regarding the reopening of the strait were progressing smoothly and predicted that an agreement would be reached within 48 hours.
According to CNN, a senior official from a Gulf state estimated the chances of Iran and Oman reaching an agreement at 50-50. This official noted that the voice of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has not been reflected in the negotiations, and there may be complications during the final signing process. Iranian state media have stated that the negotiations with Oman are unrelated to the reopening of the strait.
Additionally, the variable of Israel looms large. According to Israel's Walla News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated at a funeral that 'President Trump is our greatest friend, and the United States is our greatest ally,' but emphasized that 'Israel's existence is not a subject of negotiation, and regardless of any agreements, we will do whatever is necessary to ensure our security and future.' Israel has recently resumed airstrikes against Lebanon, citing violations of a ceasefire by Hezbollah. Iran has long demanded a halt to attacks on Hezbollah as a precondition for negotiations with the U.S.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that the U.S. government has lifted sanctions on Fly Baghdad Airlines, several aircraft linked to Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and two Iraqis.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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