Iran and Oman are nearing an agreement that could partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with negotiations focused on how commercial shipping would be routed, inspected and charged for passage.

According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official said Tehran is seeking fees equal to between 5% and 7% of the value of cargoes carried through the strait, while Oman has discussed fees of approximately 3%. Washington is pushing for no fees at all. Gulf negotiators are also insisting that regional countries supervise ship inspections and that any payments remain voluntary.

The proposed agreement currently envisions Iran controlling ships entering the Gulf through the strait, while one of the main unresolved issues is what authority Tehran would have over vessels traveling in the opposite direction.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the arrangement was designed so commercial ships would pass through Iranian territorial waters on both inbound and outbound routes. He said talks with Oman had reached “fundamental understandings” and that the progress was close to being finalized.

Gharibabadi also said Iran had received messages from the United States indicating that Washington was prepared to return to commitments under a mid-June memorandum of understanding that called for an immediate end to military operations. He said that was a condition for reopening the strait, while adding that no recent talks had been held directly with the United States.

Separately, Fars News Agency reported that under the arrangement currently being negotiated, ships would temporarily enter the Strait of Hormuz through a northern Iranian route and exit through a southern Omani route. After the temporary period, vessels would reportedly use a central route, with outbound traffic managed jointly by Iran and Oman and inbound traffic managed solely by Iran.

Fars also reported that there would be no single flat cargo fee. Instead, charges would be based on several factors, including insurance, refueling and environmental fees.

In a separate development, Fars reported that Iran’s parliament is drafting legislation that would prohibit vessels associated with Israel and the United States from transiting the strait. Ships linked to countries accused by Tehran of participating in attacks against the “Axis of Resistance” would also be barred, with fines of up to 20% of the cargo’s value imposed on violating vessels.

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