Overview
- Multiple U.S. and regional officials say a 60‑day interim agreement could be announced within 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume commercial shipping.
- Under the reported plan inbound vessels would use a northern lane through Iranian waters while outbound vessels would use a southern lane through Omani waters, with a middle lane cleared for two‑way traffic after about 30 days.
- The package reportedly includes a 60‑day suspension of tolls or fees for commercial traffic during the interim period, a point U.S. leaders say must not create Iranian control or permanent charges.
- Iran publicly denies direct talks with Washington and says negotiations are with Oman only, while the White House and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have signaled U.S. involvement and urged safeguards against Iranian authority over the strait.
- Security risks remain high because of mines and ongoing attacks on shipping, Houthi strikes and fragile trust among parties, so the ICC/UN‑backed Joint Coordination Center proposal in Salalah stands as a neutral contingency that would need broad acceptance to work and calm markets.