Oman Reaffirms Cooperation With All Parties to Restore Freedom of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz

The Sultanate of Oman has reaffirmed that it continues its transparent and neutral cooperation with all parties to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in full compliance with international law. In a statement, Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the sultanate remains fully committed to its obligations as a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and called on all parties to respect and abide by international law.

The statement, issued in light of ongoing discussions and differing views concerning navigation through the strategic waterway, underscores Oman's carefully balanced position as one of the two coastal states — alongside Iran — whose territorial waters border the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies transit.

A Neutral Broker Amid Renewed Tensions

Oman's reaffirmation of its impartial role comes amid a sharp escalation in the strait, where renewed attacks on commercial shipping have once again disrupted transit through one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The sultanate has long cultivated a reputation as a discreet mediator in regional disputes, maintaining working relationships with all sides even as tensions between the United States and Iran have flared.

As part of that role, Oman has held a series of talks with Iran on the future of navigation in the strait. Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi and his Iranian counterpart, Dr. Abbas Araghchi, chaired discussions in Muscat focusing on ensuring the safety and freedom of maritime traffic, with both sides agreeing to continue talks at the political and technical levels to reach understandings in accordance with international law.

A Two-Coastal-State Framework

In a joint statement issued after earlier talks, Oman and Iran — as the two coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz — reaffirmed their commitment to safe passage through the strait in line with applicable international law, while emphasizing their sovereignty and sovereign rights over their respective territorial waters. The two sides agreed to maintain dialogue through a joint working group between their foreign ministries to reach agreement on the future administration of navigation through the strait, the services to be provided, and the costs associated with them, while also agreeing to hold discussions with other littoral states and relevant parties.

International Support for Oman's Role

Oman's efforts have drawn backing from European powers. The United Kingdom and France announced they had agreed to work with Oman to ensure its sovereign territorial waters remain safe for navigation, describing the strait as "a vital artery for the global economy," and signaling readiness to deploy a wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation. In coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Oman had also previously announced a temporary maritime transit corridor through the strait, designed to enhance navigational safety without imposing tolls or restrictions.

The United States, however, has staunchly opposed any system of tolls or fees in the strait, having previously threatened to impose sanctions on Oman if it was seen to help Iran establish a tolling arrangement — an area of tension that continues to complicate efforts to reach a durable, mutually acceptable framework.

Oman's Broader Vision

In recent commentary, Oman's Foreign Minister has argued that establishing a permanent, internationally lawful framework to guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should be an immediate priority, describing the wider war in the region as "a catastrophe" launched without United Nations authorisation. Sayyid Badr has called for practical, sustainable arrangements developed by Oman and Iran in cooperation with the international community, expressing hope that the conflict's consequences might ultimately pave the way for a more equitable and effective security system in the Gulf.

What to Watch

With attacks on shipping continuing and the US and Iran locked in an escalating standoff over control of the waterway, Oman's ability to maintain its neutral broker role — and to bridge the gap between Iran's insistence on sovereign control and the US-GCC demand for unimpeded, fee-free navigation — is likely to remain central to any eventual de-escalation in the strait.