Iran announces deal with Oman to 'manage' Strait of Hormuz traffic

Iran’s parliament speaker told Chinese officials that the Islamic Republic will block any US ‘interference’ in the strait

News Desk

JUL 3, 2026

https://thecradle.co/articles/iran-announces-deal-with-oman-to-manage-strait-of-hormuz-traffic

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman have reached an agreement on the joint management and regulation of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced on 3 July. 

The announcement was made during a meeting with Chinese officials visiting Iran to attend the funeral of late supreme leader Ali Khamenei – who was killed by a US-Israeli strike on 28 February – set to begin on Saturday.

“During my visit to Oman a few days ago, based on Article Five of the memorandum of understanding, we reached an agreement on organizing maritime traffic,” Ghalibaf said.

He added that Tehran and Muscat are “determined to implement this, and we will certainly consult with the Persian Gulf littoral states as well.”

“The Israelis are undoubtedly seeking to undermine the … understanding between Iran and the US. However, the deterrent power of … Iran in the region will prevent them from reigniting the war. At the same time, we must reduce these tensions through a well-organized strategy and careful political measures,” he went on to say. 

Ghalibaf also expressed appreciation for Beijing–Tehran relations and thanked the Chinese officials for participation in the upcoming funeral of the late leader. 

“In the Strait of Hormuz, we resolved the issues affecting the passage of Chinese vessels, as China stood by us during difficult times, ” he went on to say. 

He stressed that the Islamic Republic “will not allow any US interference in the strait.”

Talks have been ongoing between Tehran and Muscat regarding joint post-war management of the strait. 

Iranian management of the vital waterway, along with Oman and with the potential cooperation of other regional states, has been included as an official term in the Washington–Tehran memorandum of understanding (MoU).

At the end of last month, Oman had announced that it endorsed an Iranian proposal to levy maritime “service fees” on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. 

This came after the recent announcement on the activation of a US–Omani shipping corridor through Hormuz, which Tehran had considered a violation of Clause 5 of the MoU.

Tehran has repeatedly vowed that the strait will not return to its pre-war status despite an illegal US blockade on its ports and attempts to undermine Iranian control of the waterway. 

“Hormuz is defined under Iran's command, not CENTCOM,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and top negotiator Kazem Gharibabadi said in a statement on 2 July.

Weeks earlier, Tehran announced the formation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a new body to oversee its management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington accepted the inclusion of practically all of Iran’s demands in the MoU, including a full halt to war in Lebanon, asset releases, sanctions removal, a lifting of the illegal blockade, and Iranian–Omani management of Hormuz.

A 60-day period, consisting of several rounds of talks aimed at hammering out details, was scheduled to commence. 

Yet Washington continued to violate the MoU through multiple attacks on Iran, and a failure to rein in Israel’s brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing and occupation in Lebanon.

The first 30 days of talks were meant to facilitate a gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade. Washington’s attacks and threats, as well as Israel’s behavior in Lebanon, complicated the process.

Tehran has repeatedly responded to Washington’s violations of the MoU, striking US assets in the Gulf following continuous attacks on the southern Iranian coast.