A US official stated on Friday that ongoing discussions between Iran and Oman have shown progress, raising hopes for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. This development could potentially restore oil exports that have been severely hampered by the five-month-old conflict between the United States and Iran. The official, who requested anonymity, indicated that Washington expects a formal agreement between the two nations—which border the strategic waterway—to be finalized soon, allowing for the resumption of normal oil traffic.
“There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon,” the official told Reuters. “Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports.” The official emphasized that future American actions remain performance-based, contingent upon Tehran fulfilling its specific commitments. Prior to the commencement of US and Israeli military operations on February 28, the strait facilitated the transit of approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Since the conflict began, Iran has utilized the hostilities to justify imposing tolls on tankers and firing upon vessels attempting to traverse the area without authorization.
The resulting disruption to global energy supplies has significantly driven up prices and contributed to inflationary pressures. While the Trump administration has previously suggested that a deal was imminent, those claims were often met with denials from Tehran, leaving the durability of current negotiations uncertain. Beyond the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s regional allies, the Houthis, have continued to target shipping lanes near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, further complicating the maritime security landscape.
Direct high-level diplomacy between Washington and Tehran has been largely absent since US Vice President JD Vance met with Iranian representatives in Switzerland this past June. That meeting followed a June 17 memorandum of understanding that briefly established terms for shipping and a ceasefire. However, internal political friction in both nations led to a resumption of hostilities on July 7, which were subsequently paused. Notably, the US Central Command has reported no strikes against Iran since July 29.
Analysts suggest that internal divisions within the Iranian government—specifically between President Masoud Pezeshkian and hardline power centers like Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—are hindering peace efforts. Despite this, President Pezeshkian defended his administration’s diplomatic approach during a state television interview on Friday, asserting that a majority of senior military commanders support the ongoing talks.
Addressing domestic critics who oppose negotiations with the US, Pezeshkian questioned the logic of continued conflict. “America’s biggest enemy is China, why don’t they fight? China is doing its own thing and is getting stronger day by day. When we can get our rights through dialogue, why not do it?” he remarked, signaling a push for a negotiated end to the current fighting.
Before the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, about one out of every five barrels of oil consumed worldwide transited the strait, but Iran has used the hostilities to justify charging a toll on oil t