Iran and Oman agree to jointly control the Strait of Hormuz, banning military vessels and altering commercial shipping regulations.
Iran and Oman Agree on Joint Control in the Strait of Hormuz
Significant progress has been made in the negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the future management of the Strait of Hormuz, which have been ongoing for weeks. It has been reported that critical topics such as the prohibition of military vessels' passage through the strait and the reshaping of transit regulations for commercial vessels were discussed in the talks.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated in an interview with state television that if the protocol being worked on between the two countries comes into effect, no military vessel belonging to any country will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Gharibabadi emphasized that the regulation would only permit the passage of commercial vessels, stating, 'If the agreement becomes binding, no military vessel will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.'
Critical Implications for Gulf Countries
The implementation of such a regulation could have significant implications for Gulf countries. Since Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar do not have coastlines opening to the sea outside the Strait of Hormuz, the prohibition of military vessel passage could severely affect these countries' maritime access.
The regulation could also have strategic implications for the U.S. Fifth Fleet operations in Bahrain. The Strait of Hormuz stands out as a critical route for the U.S. Navy's operations in the region, particularly in terms of access to the Persian Gulf.
Claims of Revenue Sharing Between Iran and Oman
Another important topic in the negotiations is the transit fees that could be collected from commercial vessels passing through the strait. Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi claimed that Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the sharing of revenues generated from their respective shares in the Gulf waters.
In this context, the transit fees being discussed are planned to be collected from commercial vessels entering and exiting the Gulf. Such a system has the potential to generate a significant amount of new revenue for Iran.
However, the Omani government has yet to confirm claims regarding a final revenue-sharing agreement. Iranian civil government officials have also not provided any official confirmation on this matter.
U.S. Opposition
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards assert that the U.S. is attempting to obstruct the ongoing process. Washington, on the other hand, opposes the implementation of transit fees for commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's increased control over the strait and the restriction of military vessel passage could pose a new challenge to the U.S. military's operational capability in the Gulf.
Given that the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical maritime transit points for global energy trade, the introduction of a new management and transit regime in the region is expected to have significant effects on global maritime transportation and energy markets.
For now, it remains uncertain whether the discussions between Iran and Oman will result in a final agreement, and particularly whether the issues of military vessel passage and revenue sharing will be included in the official text of the agreement.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
