Iran, Oman deal on Strait of Hormuz getting close, Tehran says

Iran and Oman are close to agreeing on new arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, but not for a full reopening of the vital waterway, Iran's state news agency reported Thursday. Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalized, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday. "The geographical coordinates of the route envisaged by the two sides have been agreed upon and, if certain third parties do not obstruct the process, the joint statement of the two countries, containing the main considerations and points of agreement, is also in the final review and drafting stage," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to state news agency IRNA. In addition to referring to "certain third parties," the foreign ministry went on to more blatantly blame the U.S. and said they cannot assure safe passage through the strait as long as the naval blockade continues. The Iranian-Omani proposal — that is currently under negotiation — to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would have no tolls or service fees for ships transiting the waterway, sources told CBS News. Under the proposal which Iran and Oman have been negotiating for several days, ships entering the strait would use the route closest to Iran, coordinated by Tehran, while ships leaving the strait would use the route closest to Oman, coordinated by Muscat. That proposal would also exclude tolls or service fees to transit the vital waterway, a major sticking point in the various talks held between the U.S., Iran and mediators. Saeedi said vessels using the route would require permission, can't be military ships, and would have to follow regulations and pay service fees. "The decision-maker regarding the Strait of Hormuz is the Islamic Republic of Iran. Negotiations are being held with Oman as a coastal state, and if it accepts Iran's conditions, an agreement will be reached," he said. "The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open for all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international waterway," U.S. Central Command said. U.S. forces have assisted more than 1,000 vessels in safely transiting through the strait over the past three months. The U.S. military blockade redirected one more vessel in the Strait of Hormuz in the last day. Few ships are transiting the strait currently. Only eight ships crossed on Tuesday, according to Kpler, a maritime tracking firm, and just 29 have crossed so far this week. "The Master of a tanker has reported hearing two explosions whilst transiting in the Strait of Hormuz," an incident that occurred about 10 miles southeast of Kumzar, Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on X. "The report confirms that crew and vessel are safe." President Trump on Thursday told reporters he didn't want to say that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz had been reached, but insisted it is "sort of open right now." "We control it, but they can always shoot something, they always have something, or drop a mine, and if you have one mine out there you sort of mess things up, because people don't want to take their billion-dollar boats and accidentally hit a mine," Trump said. An AP-sourced item the same day says two regional officials said service fees WOULD be charged, and quotes Trump: "I'm not going to let them charge," Mr. Trump said. "Anybody's going to charge, we'll charge." "'Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate.' That's theater diplomacy on loop," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X. He also accused the U.S. of "bullying [and] broken promises." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that communication with the country's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was very "difficult at the moment."