Oman and Iran are working to finalize a plan for ships to move through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting on the latest regional negotiations. The development has placed Oman at the center of efforts to manage shipping through one of the world’s most important maritime passages.

The Associated Press reported that Iran said an understanding had been reached on the map of a transit route and that officials were preparing a joint statement. The report also said the wider US-Iran negotiating period was nearing its deadline, with the status of a broader peace agreement still unresolved.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry has separately described coordination with the International Maritime Organization on a temporary maritime corridor. Its statement said the option was intended to support freedom of navigation and operate without transit fees under the coordinates announced by the relevant authorities.

The reported plan does not by itself guarantee that the waterway will fully reopen or that every vessel will be able to pass without restriction. Shipping companies and governments will still need operational instructions, security assurances and clear communication about the corridor’s status.

The Strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Any change in access can affect maritime planning, insurance and energy markets, but the sources reviewed here describe a developing arrangement rather than a completed reopening.

Sources: Associated Press — https://apnews.com/article/53ae10812e472a4e5bb228b9f318a5fc; Oman Foreign Ministry — https://www.fm.gov.om/en/49077/