Iranian and Omani negotiators are working toward an agreement that could restart commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report in Bloomberg.

One proposal would reopen the strait’s “middle passage,” which has largely gone unused since fighting began in late February. The route lies between a northern channel near Iran’s coastline and a southern channel passing near Oman’s Musandam exclave. However, the middle passage is believed to contain Iranian sea mines and may need to be cleared before ships can use it regularly.

Omani negotiators are reportedly optimistic that an announcement signaling progress could come within days, though no guarantees have been given. The United Kingdom, France and other European countries have said they could lead de-mining efforts once conditions are considered safe. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also pressing his British counterpart, Wes Streeting, to host a summit on protecting maritime traffic through the strait.

Traffic through Hormuz has become a major obstacle in peace talks between Washington and Tehran. Although the two sides have paused their fighting since Friday, very few ships are moving through the waterway, and many vessels are operating with tracking devices turned off. Iran has insisted that it will play a role in managing shipping around the strait and is pressing Oman to agree to a joint system that would likely include fees for vessels.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)