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ToggleThe Middle East conflict, which affects the global energy sector, has seen a potential solution emerging amidst the extreme pressure campaign. Since the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran on February 28th, the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important energy chokepoint, has been blocked, resulting in the largest disruption in history to nearly 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply.
However, according to an exclusive report by Reuters on Thursday (16th), Tehran authorities appear to be prepared to make concessions at the negotiating table.
Conditions for exchange: Opening waters off the Omani side, hoping for US compromise.
According to a source familiar with Tehran briefings, as part of a negotiating package with the United States, Iran is considering a proposal to allow ships the freedom of navigation through the "Oman side" of the Strait of Hormuz without the risk of attack.
Since the outbreak of the war, hundreds of oil tankers, cargo ships, and up to 20,000 crew members have been stranded in the Persian Gulf. Currently, both sides are in a two-week temporary ceasefire that took effect on April 8th, and US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the war is "nearing its end." However, control of the Strait of Hormuz remains the most intractable core dispute at the negotiating table.
The source emphasized that the key to the proposal lies in "whether Washington is prepared to meet Tehran's demands." It remains unclear whether Iran will agree to remove its mines in the waters or allow free passage for all vessels, including those linked to Israel. Neither the White House nor the Iranian Foreign Ministry immediately commented.
Signal of concession: Abandoning extreme "toll fees" and sovereignty claims
The Strait of Hormoz, at its narrowest point only 34 kilometers (21 miles), lies between Iran and Oman. It is the only waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and a major route for the export of important goods such as energy and fertilizers from the Middle East.
Western security sources indicate that a proposal to allow unimpeded passage through Omani waters is indeed under consideration. This is seen as the first clear sign that Tehran is backing down from its recent "extremely belligerent stance." In recent weeks, Iran has threatened to impose "tolls" on ships passing through the international waterway and to impose full sovereignty over the strait; this has drawn strong criticism from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has stated that this would set a "dangerous precedent" and violate international maritime conventions.
Returning to the 1968 waterway separation agreement?
If this proposal is implemented, it will be the first step towards restoring the current state of navigation in the Strait. According to the "Two-Way Traffic Separation Plan" adopted in 1968 by the United Nations shipping agency and regional countries, the current shipping system already divides the waterway into Iranian and Omani waters.
This proposal comes at a time when the US military is further escalating pressure. Just this Monday, the US military imposed a strict maritime blockade on oil tankers departing Iranian ports. Under extreme economic sanctions and military deterrence, whether Iran can gain breathing room by relinquishing the Omani side of the shipping lane will be a key variable determining global energy prices and the direction of peace in the Middle East.
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