Iran Says It Reached Hormuz Revenue-Sharing Deal With Oman

Iran said it had reached an agreement with Oman on how revenues from the Strait of Hormuz would be divided, extending negotiations over the management and possible reopening of the strategic waterway into the question of fees.

Hossein Mohebbi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Wednesday that Tehran and Muscat had settled both territorial and financial elements of the discussions.

“Agreements have been reached regarding each country’s share of the strait’s waters as well as Iran and Oman’s share of its revenues,” Mohebbi said, according to the state-run Sepah News agency.

IRGC Goes Beyond Joint Statement

The claim went further than a joint statement issued by the Iranian and Omani foreign ministries on Tuesday.

That statement said the two sides had discussed an “interim framework” for restarting vessel transits through Hormuz. It did not announce a final agreement or refer to fees or revenue sharing.

Mohebbi also accused Washington of slowing negotiations. “The US is obstructing this process, causing progress to be delayed,” he said, without providing further detail.

Reopening Remains Conditional

Iranian officials have said an agreement with Oman over navigation would not by itself trigger the immediate reopening of the strait.

Tehran has tied normalization of shipping to U.S. compliance with a memorandum of understanding signed in June.

Its demands include the lifting of sanctions and a naval blockade on Iranian ports, as well as the release of Iranian assets held abroad.

The U.S. has given no indication that it is prepared to accept those conditions.

A 60-day interim arrangement expired earlier this month after repeated breaches as Washington and Tehran disputed control of Hormuz.

An agreement easing traffic through the waterway could also create conditions for renewed talks aimed at reaching a more durable end to the conflict.

Fees Remain a Point of Dispute

Iran began charging some vessels transit fees during the first weeks of the conflict, according to people familiar with the matter. Tehran later described the charges as payments for services instead.

Oman told the United Nations shipping agency in July that it opposed transit fees in the strait.

Muscat has, however, privately warned some European officials that vessels could be required to pay for associated services.

The distinction matters as Iran and Oman negotiate a broader framework for traffic through Hormuz while, according to the IRGC, also setting out how revenues would be divided.

Strait Remains Largely Closed

The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely shut since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, although some vessels continue to make the crossing.

Before the conflict, the waterway carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Millions of barrels of crude continue to pass through the strait each day, while attacks on vessels have persisted.