Oman has proposed a joint regional mechanism with Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, including a system of voluntary contributions from users of the strategic waterway, a Gulf source said on Tuesday.
The proposal, which has received support from several regional countries, aims to establish a shared framework for navigation, environmental protection and search and rescue operations while preventing any single country from exercising exclusive control over the route.
The plan is modelled on arrangements used in the Strait of Malacca, where countries and shipping users voluntarily contribute towards maintaining maritime security and supporting safe passage.
The proposal comes after the United States suspended its air-strike campaign against Iran over the weekend, raising hopes for renewed diplomacy and efforts to restore confidence among global shipping operators using the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy routes, carrying about one-fifth of global oil supplies before the recent tensions.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington was engaged in “good talks” with Tehran and that a potential agreement remained possible, but warned that military action could resume if negotiations failed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also discussed the future of the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani and Saudi counterparts on Monday.
Iran’s foreign ministry said Araqchi stressed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and increasing diplomatic efforts to promote stability, while blaming US actions for contributing to insecurity around the strategic waterway.
Ojo Triumph
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