Iran and Oman have announced a joint plan to establish a temporary maritime corridor and carry out mine clearance in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, even as Washington signals a shift towards economic coercion rather than immediate military action.
A fragile detente in contested waters
In a move that could reshape the security landscape of the Gulf, Tehran and Muscat have reached a preliminary agreement to restore safe passage through one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global oil transport. According to a joint statement carried by Iran’s state news agency IRNA on Tuesday, the two nations will collaborate on a temporary shipping lane and a demining operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement said the agreement was reached “during consultations on the resumption of safe navigation” in the strait, with both sides committing to a “temporary joint maritime corridor” and a coordinated project to remove mines from the waterway.
Technical talks to define permanent route
While the initial arrangement is temporary, officials indicated that further technical negotiations will be held to determine a permanent shipping route. Tehran and Muscat are also expected to discuss the long-term governance of the strait, including maritime traffic management, information-sharing systems, and the provision of security and auxiliary services required for commercial navigation.
The announcement follows high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi held talks in Tehran earlier this week.
A warning from Washington
The bilateral agreement comes against a backdrop of acute tension with the United States. In August, President Donald Trump warned that the US would strike Oman if the sultanate continued negotiations with Iran over control of the strait. The White House has viewed any Omani-Iranian arrangement with deep suspicion, arguing that it could undermine American strategic interests in the region.
On Tuesday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that US Navy command had informed him all mines in the strait had been eliminated. He had previously declared on August 18 that the waterway was fully cleared and open to navigation.
Rubio signals pause on military action
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told several foreign counterparts in recent days that Washington does not currently plan to resume combat operations against Iran, according to a report by Axios citing informed sources. Instead, the administration is focusing on tightening economic pressure through a naval blockade and fresh sanctions.
According to one source, this policy is expected to remain in place at least until the US midterm elections, after which the question of a new military campaign could be revisited. While Rubio made clear that a return to full-scale hostilities was not imminent, he did not rule out strikes if Iran were to attack first.
Shifting balance of power in the Gulf
American officials believe the US Navy’s mine-clearing operation has fundamentally altered the strategic equation. One source told Axios that the demining effort had stripped Iran of a critical bargaining chip and rendered any Omani-Iranian understanding over the strait largely irrelevant.
“Iranians have lost control of the strait. Now the control is in US hands,” one American official said.
Another source suggested that sustained economic pressure could force Tehran back to the negotiating table. In a further sign of Washington’s focus on the region, presidential representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner who lead negotiations with Iran are expected to visit US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday for a briefing on the current situation.
