Iran and Oman reportedly close to deal on Strait of Hormuz shipping lane

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Iran and Oman are close to reaching an agreement to restore commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by The New York Times on Monday citing Iranian and United States (US) officials.

Under the deal being discussed, ships entering the Gulf would transit through a shipping lane under Iranian control and close to its coast, whilst ships leaving the Gulf would use a lane near Oman.

Iranian officials told The New York Times that no tolls would be levied, but the agreement includes the imposition of a “service fee” to cover environmental impacts, security costs for cargo ships and tankers, as well as staffing expenses.

Revenue from these fees, they said, would be split equally between Iran and Oman.

On the other hand, a US official denied the claims and called them inaccurate. According to the official, any temporary shipping lane used in the Strait of Hormuz does not require Iran’s approval and would not be subject to tolls or similar charges.

The report also stated that several senior Pentagon officials are sceptical of the plan, out of concern that the agreement could be seen as a concession to Iran.

It was further reported that some Iranian officials also question whether the deal can truly proceed as planned and prevent a further round of US attacks.

Source: Anadolu