Negotiators from Iran and Oman are trying to reach an agreement to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the matter.
The two countries, whose territories border the strategic waterway, are continuing discussions after officials met in Tehran over the weekend. A successful agreement could pave the way for Iran and the US to resume negotiations aimed at ending the broader conflict.
One proposal under consideration would reopen the strait’s so-called middle passage. Ships have largely avoided the route since fighting began in late February, instead using either a northern passage close to Iran’s coastline or a southern route near Oman’s Musandam exclave.
US President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran were engaged in diplomatic talks to end the conflict, although he did not specify whether the negotiations included the Strait of Hormuz. He warned, however, that fighting could resume if the talks failed to produce an agreement.
Reopening the middle passage would still present significant operational risks. The route is believed to contain sea mines laid by Iran and may need to be cleared before commercial vessels can use it regularly. The UK, France and other European countries have offered to lead demining operations, but only once security conditions allow.
At the same time, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is urging his UK counterpart, Wes Streeting, to convene a summit on protecting maritime traffic through the strait, underscoring that any diplomatic agreement will also require a credible security framework for shipping.
