STRAIT. Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026.
Unresolved issues remain regarding the specifics of control and fees for using the strait, with differing positions between Iran, Oman, and the US
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, August 5, one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
There was no immediate US comment on the proposal. While US President Donald Trump has said a deal reopening the strait is imminent, US officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world’s most important trade route for energy supplies.
An agreement that gives Iran authority over traffic through the strait would mean the war launched by the United States and Israel in February had resulted in a major shift in the balance of regional power in Tehran’s favor. Before the war, the strait was freely open to all ships with no fees.
