Iran says Hormuz route agreed with Oman, reopening uncertain

TEHRAN

Small boats line the shore as cargo ships and other commercial vessels appear anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, July 27, 2026. (AP)

Iran said on Wednesday that it and Oman had agreed on the coordinates of a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and were finalizing a joint statement, but cautioned that the arrangement alone would not reopen the waterway.

“The geographical coordinates of the route envisaged by the two sides have been agreed upon,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to state news agency IRNA.

Baqaei said the joint statement was in the final stages of review and drafting, provided “certain third parties” did not obstruct the process.

Tehran and Muscat have spent two months discussing a safe commercial route through the strait, with the technical, legal, security and environmental aspects of the proposal under review, he said.

Baqaei added that an agreement with Oman would not by itself guarantee safe navigation, pointing to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and other American military actions.

Iran has denied holding direct negotiations with Washington over the strait, saying its talks are solely with Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, has faced severe disruptions since U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began on Feb. 28.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker reported hearing two explosions about nine nautical miles southeast of Kumzar, Oman, while transiting the strait. The ship and its crew were safe, and no environmental damage was reported.

Yemen’s Houthis also said they had struck the Saudi oil tankers Wafa and Daisy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment.