Iran has made clear that a deal with Oman on a new shipping arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz will not, by itself, be enough to reopen the strategic waterway.
Tehran noted that the strait will reopen only after the United States accepts a broader set of Iranian conditions, while Washington wants commercial shipping to resume without any hindrance.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran and Muscat were "very close" to an agreement on a new arrangement for shipping through the strait. However, he stressed that the agreement with Oman would not be sufficient on its own.
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Iran's Revolutionary Guard has also rejected suggestions that reopening the waterway is solely linked to the Iran-Oman negotiations. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said the reopening was "contingent upon the United States accepting Iran's conditions and has no connection to the Iran-Oman negotiations."
"Whenever the United States accepts Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened," he added, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.
What Iran Wants
Iran's demands include an end to US threats and military action against Iran and its regional allies. Tehran also wants the withdrawal of US naval and air forces involved in the blockade, compensation for damage caused during the conflict, lifting of US sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.
The IRGC has additionally demanded that Washington stop interfering in regional negotiations.
Iran and Oman are separately working on a new shipping arrangement. Tehran has rejected the previous shipping traffic separation scheme and is discussing a temporary route with Oman while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route are resolved.
What The US Wants
Washington wants unrestricted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A US official told Reuters, "There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon. Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports."
The official added, "As always, US actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran's implementation of its commitments."
US President Donald Trump has also said the US Navy is leading the blockade and that Washington controls it.
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What Lies Ahead
The biggest hurdles are still over military activity, sanctions, compensation, frozen Iranian assets and control over vessels using the strait. Iran wants a broader deal with Washington, but the U.S. links the reopening of the waterway to Iran's commitments and unrestricted commercial shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy chokepoint, carrying around a fifth of the world's oil and gas shipments before the conflict. Any prolonged disruption could therefore have wider implications for energy markets, shipping costs and global inflation.
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