Tehran and Muscat have moved to the brink of a formal agreement on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides settling on the coordinates of a new transit route after two months of negotiations. The breakthrough, confirmed by Iranian officials on Wednesday, comes as the waterway remains effectively sealed off following the collapse of a June truce and the resumption of US–Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, told reporters that the proposed route’s geographical coordinates have been agreed upon, and that a joint statement incorporating the main points of understanding is in its final review and drafting stage. He cautioned, however, that the process could still be derailed if certain unnamed third parties obstruct it. Main Developments Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, elaborated on the arrangement in an interview with Iran’s IRNA state news agency. He said the two countries have reached an understanding on nearly all issues, including the location of entry and exit points for maritime traffic. Read also: 3 Reasons US Lawmakers Link Ceuta Crisis to Morocco Aid Under the planned framework, large portions of the shipping lane would traverse Iran’s territorial waters, with other segments passing through Omani waters. The existing temporary routes would be closed, and the new route would remain in use for a period of two to four months, or potentially longer, Gharibabadi explained. Baghaei stressed that the closure of the strait stems from “US military aggression and the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iran.” He underscored that the Iran–Oman understanding alone cannot guarantee security for transiting vessels, because the factors undermining safety—particularly the US naval blockade and other aggressive actions against Iran—remain in place. Background The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is a critical artery for global energy supplies. Iran enforced a near-total closure of the strait after both Tehran and Washington declared an end to a June 17 memorandum of understanding and resumed strikes in the war that began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. The resumed hostilities have disrupted roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, driving up prices. US officials, including President Donald Trump, have said Tehran is eager for a deal to reopen the strait, but Washington has repeatedly stated it would not accept any arrangement that leaves Iran in control of the waterway. Why It Matters For Iran, the talks are not just about restoring commercial traffic—they are a bid to cement its wartime gains. Ali Akbar Dareini, a Tehran-based researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera that the strait is Iran’s “biggest military achievement of the war,” and that negotiations are aimed at “stabilising those achievements,” not giving them away. Any final agreement with Oman could reshape the strategic balance in the region, potentially providing Iran with a degree of legitimacy over the waterway while still leaving the US blockade in force. The outcome will also have direct implications for global energy markets, as the resumption of stable shipping through Hormuz could ease price pressures. What's Next The joint statement between Iran and Oman is reportedly in the final stage of review and drafting, with the understanding that it will take effect once no third-party obstruction occurs. Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that it had redirected 48 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two as part of its blockade of the Iranian navy. Observers will be watching whether the new route can be implemented without triggering a wider confrontation, and whether Washington’s insistence that Iran not control the strait will lead to further friction. The two-to-four-month trial period for the new route will be a key test of its viability and of the durability of the Iran–Oman understanding.