Tehran is signaling that its negotiations with Oman over a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz are nearly complete, a move that could reshape the strategic waterway’s status even as Washington presses for a full reopening. The announcement, made by Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday, underscores how the closure of the strait—once a pillar of global energy flows—has become a central bargaining chip in the broader conflict with the United States and Israel. Main Developments Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the cabinet that the talks with Muscat are “on the way to being finalised,” according to a Telegram post. His spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, elaborated on state television, saying the two sides are close to an agreement on a route that is neither the northern nor the southern corridor, but one that respects both nations’ sovereign rights and security interests. The details of the proposed route remain undisclosed, but Iran has effectively controlled the strait since the war began. Baghaei stressed that any understanding with Oman is separate from whether the strait reopens or stays closed, blaming the United States for the closure and accusing Washington of breaching its commitments, as reported by Fars news agency. Read also: Greek Firefighting Helicopters Collide, Killing Two Crew Members President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed the diplomatic push, describing a memorandum of understanding with the US as the “cornerstone” of Iran’s future foreign policy. He insisted that Tehran must make the enemy adhere to what it signed, adding that the security of Iran, the region, and its allies hinges on that agreement. Parliamentary national security spokesman Hassam Ghashghavi told SNN that mediators are working to revive the June MoU, with Hormuz as the central sticking point. He hinted that an Iranian delegation might travel to Muscat again as part of ongoing diplomacy, calling such exchanges routine. Background The current crisis dates to February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s missile program, preventing a nuclear weapon, and cutting off support for allied armed groups. That offensive triggered a series of escalations that led to the closure of the strait, a waterway that normally carries about 20 percent of global oil consumption. A ceasefire in June collapsed within weeks over disputes about shipping routes through Hormuz, and fighting reignited in July. The June memorandum, which now appears to be the focus of renewed mediation efforts, was meant to address those issues but failed to hold. Iran’s insistence that the strait will never revert to its pre-war status reflects a harder line than the one taken before the conflict. The negotiations with Oman, a neighbor that shares territorial waters in the strait, represent a potential workaround that could allow some shipping to resume without a full reopening. Why It Matters The outcome of these talks will have global implications, given the strait’s role in oil shipments. A new route acceptable to both Iran and Oman could provide a face-saving mechanism for Tehran to ease restrictions while maintaining its leverage, but it would fall short of the “Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING” that US President Donald Trump has demanded. Trump announced early Sunday that the US and Israel had agreed to halt new attacks on Iran, provided a deal is reached rapidly. He posted on Truth Social that he canceled an attack at the request of Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries, but warned that the US remains “locked and loaded and ready to go.” Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Trump by phone on Saturday, urging dialogue and de-escalation, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Axios reported that MBS expressed concern about large-scale new attacks, adding a layer of regional pressure on Washington to pursue a negotiated settlement. Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, described Iran’s response as “oscillating rhetoric” that mirrors Trump’s own mixed signals—open to diplomacy on one hand, prepared for another round of conflict on the other. This dual approach reflects the uncertainty that hangs over the entire negotiation process. What's Next The immediate focus is on finalizing the Oman-brokered route, with an Iranian delegation potentially heading to Muscat again. However, the broader question of whether the strait fully reopens hinges on the fate of the June MoU, which mediators are reportedly trying to revive. Trump has given no explicit deadline, but his post urged all parties to “get to work” and “get it DONE,” suggesting that the window for a deal may be narrow. The Iranian government, for its part, has framed the MoU as a cornerstone of future relations, yet it remains unclear whether Washington will accept a partial reopening or insist on full access. Open questions include the exact terms of the new maritime route, whether it will be open to all nations or restricted, and how it wo