Iran, Oman near Strait of Hormuz route deal after US strike pause
What's new: Tehran says any pact would create a new shipping route, not restore prewar passage through the chokepoint.
Iran and Oman are in the final stage of talks over a new shipping arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials said Aug. 2, after President Donald Trump paused planned US strikes to leave room for diplomacy. Tehran said the future route would be set bilaterally with Muscat and would not return the strait to its prewar status. Iran has kept control of passage and imposed tolls since closing the waterway during the war. The strait is critical for global oil and gas flows, making any change to access a high-stakes issue for energy markets and regional security. Iranian officials tied the talks to a June memorandum and said third parties were not involved.