The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Reuters reported that a proposed agreement between Iran and Oman aimed at ending five months of conflict between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday.
There was no immediate comment from the United States on the
proposal. Although President Donald Trump has said an agreement to reopen the
strategic waterway is imminent, U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they
would not agree to Iran controlling access to one of the world's most important
energy shipping routes.
According to the Iranian and regional sources who spoke to
Reuters, the proposed agreement would represent one of the biggest concessions
made to Iran and could significantly shift the regional balance of power in
Tehran's favor.
Iranian and Omani officials told Reuters that the two
countries have made significant progress in bilateral negotiations over the
Strait of Hormuz, with discussions focusing on routing both inbound and
outbound commercial vessels through Iranian territorial waters.
Five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Iran
has also warned Gulf states that any new U.S. military strike on its territory
would trigger retaliatory attacks on critical energy infrastructure across the
region.
"The Iranian warning was unequivocal: if America
targeted Iran's infrastructure, they would retaliate by striking Gulf energy
facilities and other regional targets," one Gulf source told Reuters.
Regarding the negotiations, the regional and Iranian sources
told Reuters that several major issues remain unresolved despite progress in
the talks.
One regional source told Reuters that negotiators had
already agreed in principle to some form of Iranian control over the Strait of
Hormuz, while another regional source said discussions continue over how that
control would be defined.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is
seeking transit fees ranging from 5% to 7% of cargo values for ships using the
strait, while Oman has proposed fees of around 3% and the United States is
seeking a fee-free arrangement.
The same Iranian official told Reuters that the current
draft agreement would give Iran authority over vessels entering the Gulf
through the Strait of Hormuz, while negotiations continue over Tehran's role in
overseeing outbound shipping
