Iran says deal with Oman to manage shipping through Hormuz is close

Negotiations on agreement seen as critical to preventing the US-Iran war from escalating said to be in ‘final stages’

A girl swings along the shore as cargo ships and other commercial vessels appear anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (Razieh Poudat/ISNA via AP) 03 Aug 2026 02:54AM (Updated: 03 Aug 2026 03:03AM) TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday (Aug 2) said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new r

Iran said it was close to reaching a deal with Oman on a new maritime route that “respects the sovereign rights of both sides”.

Details of the new route were not immediately clear, but Iran has effectively maintained control over the strategic waterway, through which around 20 per cent of global oil consumption passes on normal days, since the outbreak of war.

The discussions between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz come as Trump cancelled an attack he had been threatening in prior days.

Iran on Sunday said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new route through the Strait of Hormuz, hours after the US called off major strikes to allow for diplomacy. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his country and Israel had agreed to hold off on new strikes on Iran, saying the "perimet