- The US is working on arrangements to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz
- Washington seeks Iran's assurance that ships using the waterway won't be targeted
- Iran says reopening the strait depends on broader political and security conditions
The United States is working on arrangements to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, with Washington seeking assurances from Iran that ships using the waterway will not be targeted, Al Jazeera reported.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region and continuing disruptions to maritime traffic through the narrow waterway, a critical artery for global energy supplies.
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The Pentagon has told US media that work is under way on arrangements that could allow commercial vessels to navigate the strait safely.
BREAKING: The Pentagon has told US media that they are working on a plan to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and this includes a commitment from Iran to refrain from opening fire.
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) August 8, 2026
???? More on https://t.co/5H0QqpggO4 pic.twitter.com/iOgD38C4Hn
A central element of the proposed mechanism is an understanding that Iran would refrain from opening fire on ships using designated routes through the waterway. However, Tehran's latest statements suggest that any reopening of the strait will depend on broader political and security conditions.
Sardar Mohebi, spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was not simply dependent on an agreement reached with Oman. He said the waterway would reopen only after the United States “fully” accepts Iran's conditions.
Iran's army spokesperson Amir Akraminia also said Tehran's position on the strait was irreversible and warned Washington against attempting to alter the existing situation. “The United States has no choice but to accept the existing situation; otherwise, it will incur costs far greater than those it has faced in the past,” Akraminia said, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.
Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have been engaged in negotiations over the future administration and reopening of the strategic waterway.
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An Iranian parliamentary official said a general framework of understanding had been reached with Oman, although final approval from higher authorities was still awaited. The talks have reportedly explored the possibility of establishing specific routes for vessels transiting the strait.
The US push for safe passage comes as Washington seeks to restore commercial shipping through Hormuz and limit further pressure on global energy markets. Any credible arrangement could ease uncertainty for shipping companies, oil traders and energy importers.
However, the prospects for such an arrangement remain uncertain. Iran has indicated that the post-war order in the strait cannot simply return to the status quo that existed before the conflict.
With Iran insisting that reopening the waterway is tied to its conditions and Washington seeking guaranteed freedom of navigation, the future of the Strait of Hormuz remains closely linked to the wider US-Iran confrontation.
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