Iran has put forward a proposal to the United States that would allow ships to pass through the Oman-side waters of the Strait of Hormuz without being attacked, according to a Reuters exclusive citing a source familiar with briefings in Tehran. The proposal is part of broader negotiations after the waterway was effectively shut following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. Since then, hundreds of commercial vessels and about 20,000 crew members have remained trapped inside the Gulf.
Talks hinge on access to the Oman-side channel
The source said the offer is being weighed as one element in talks with Washington. Its viability depends on whether the U.S. is prepared to meet Tehran’s demands. The two sides are currently within a two-week temporary ceasefire that took effect on April 8. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the war was “close to an end,” but control over the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the hardest issues on the table.
Several details remain unresolved. Reuters said it is not clear whether Iran would agree to remove mines placed in those waters, or whether all vessels, including ships linked to Israel, would be allowed to pass freely. The White House and Iran’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment.
Shift from toll threats to a narrower concession
The Strait of Hormuz narrows to just 34 kilometers at its tightest point and sits between Iran and Oman. It is the only maritime outlet from the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and a critical route for oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and other cargoes from the region. The source material says the disruption has affected nearly 20% of global oil and LNG supply.
Western security sources said a plan to let ships move without obstruction through Omani waters is indeed under discussion. That is being viewed as the first visible sign that Tehran is stepping back from a much harder line. In recent weeks, Iran had threatened to impose transit fees on ships using the international waterway and asserted full sovereign control over the strait. The International Maritime Organization pushed back sharply, saying such a move would create a dangerous precedent and breach international maritime conventions.
Possible return to the 1968 traffic separation plan
If implemented, the proposal could mark an initial step toward restoring regular navigation through the strait. Under a 1968 traffic separation scheme adopted by a U.N. shipping body with regional states, the current navigation system already divides shipping lanes between Iranian waters and Omani waters.
Reuters also noted that the U.S. military earlier this week tightened a maritime blockade on tankers leaving Iranian ports. Whether Tehran can trade access to the Oman-side channel for breathing room in negotiations now depends on what the two sides are willing to concede.