Oman has presented Iran with a Gulf-backed proposal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including a system of voluntary contributions from vessels using the strategic waterway, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The initiative is aimed at restoring normal maritime trade following months of disruption caused by the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

While the proposal seeks to provide a framework for easing tensions, the United States has rejected any arrangement involving tolls or transit fees, maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway that must remain free of restrictions.

Oman Seeks Middle Ground on Strait Management

According to Reuters, the Omani proposal would allow Iran and Oman to jointly oversee shipping through the Strait of Hormuz rather than granting Tehran exclusive control. Under the plan, any payments by vessels would be voluntary rather than mandatory.

The proposal draws inspiration from the Strait of Malacca, where Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore invite voluntary contributions from ships to support navigation, environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations.

Iran has previously proposed jointly managing the strait with Oman while introducing service charges for vessels using the route. Tehran has suggested managing one direction of shipping traffic while Oman oversees part of the opposite lane.

A Gulf source and a Western diplomat told Reuters that the latest Omani proposal is intended to bridge differences between Iran and the United States over the future operation of the waterway.

US Rejects Transit Fees

A US official said Washington does not support any arrangement involving tolls or fees for commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The official reiterated that the waterway is an international shipping route and that any agreement under discussion would not include mandatory or voluntary transit charges imposed by Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making it one of the most strategically important maritime passages.

Shipping through the strait has faced repeated disruptions since the conflict escalated after US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.

Gulf Nations Discuss Maritime Security

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss the evolving regional situation and measures to strengthen cooperation on ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s military also rejected a proposal reportedly put forward by US President Donald Trump to compensate ships affected by the conflict using frozen Iranian assets. According to Iranian state media, Tehran warned that any country or company accepting such compensation would be denied passage through the strait.

Regional shipping has also come under renewed pressure after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement announced a blockade of Saudi ports on the Red Sea earlier this month. The group later claimed it had fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker.

Trump Warns of Further Military Action

President Donald Trump said there had been “good talks” with Iran but warned that the United States was prepared to resume military strikes if negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

Speaking ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said Washington remained in a strong position and repeated that additional military action remained an option if diplomacy did not succeed.

He also reiterated his threat to target Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain facility, saying it could be destroyed “very easily” if no agreement was reached.

Iran, however, has denied seeking fresh negotiations with the United States, accusing Washington of violating last month’s framework agreement for talks. Meanwhile, global oil prices continued to fall, with Brent crude dropping more than 5 per cent on Tuesday after declining around 8 per cent the previous day following the suspension of the US bombing campaign.

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