Iran has announced that it is working with Oman on a draft proposal to monitor the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply transits.

The claim was made by Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, who told the state-run IRNA news agency that the plan is designed to ensure safe passage and improve services for ships navigating the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz, lying between Iranian and Omani territorial waters, is recognised internationally as a free waterway. However, tensions have long surrounded its use, with Iran accused of harassing shipping and imposing exorbitant passage fees, reportedly as high as two million US dollars per vessel. These actions have created a chokehold on one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.

Iran’s announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflict and heightened regional instability. Gharibabadi emphasised that wartime conditions cannot be governed by pre-war rules, suggesting that Iran views its actions as a response to what it calls aggression. He argued that disruptions to navigation are the natural consequence of hostile acts against the country.

Oman, a key Gulf state often seen as a mediator in regional disputes, has not yet confirmed its involvement in the proposal. Its silence leaves questions about whether the plan is a genuine bilateral initiative or primarily an Iranian attempt to project legitimacy over its activities in the strait.

The timing of the announcement is notable, given recent reports of US-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure and a pending UN vote on a watered-down resolution concerning the strait’s openness. 

These developments highlight the fragile balance between international law, regional power struggles, and the global economy’s reliance on uninterrupted maritime trade.

If implemented, the proposal could reshape the governance of the strait, but its implications remain uncertain. It may be seen as an effort by Iran to formalise control under the guise of cooperation, or alternatively, as a diplomatic gesture to ease tensions.

Much will depend on Oman’s stance and the reaction of the wider international community, which has consistently defended the principle of free navigation in international waters.

AP