Iran and Oman make progress on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, officials say

Iran and the Gulf Arab state of Oman have made progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a potential breakthrough that could help wind down the war in the Middle East, regional officials say.

Under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, two regional officials tell The Associated Press.

They say negotiations are still underway and that the final agreement could take a different form, with any deal linked to lifting the US blockade on Iran’s ports. The officials speak on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations unfolding behind closed doors.

The comments echo US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statement earlier today that “there’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet.”

A US official familiar with the negotiations says that any “temporary” routes established through the strait would not involve approvals by Iran or charges. The official, who is also speaking on condition of anonymity, says the US remains committed to returning to the status quo in which “no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them.”