A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran has rejected Oman's proposal for joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it has 'no chance of succeeding.' The official insisted that all entry routes through the strait and part of the exit route must be under Iranian control, adding that if the terms require otherwise, the discussion is not over. The statement comes after earlier reports of progress on a temporary solution.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters Wednesday morning that Tehran has rejected Oman's proposal for joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz, calling the plan unsalvageable. The official insisted that all entry routes and part of the exit route must remain under exclusive Iranian control, and warned that if the terms require otherwise, 'the discussion is not over.' The statement marks a hardening of Iran's position after earlier reports of progress on a temporary solution.
The rejection follows a series of Iranian assertions of authority over the waterway. On Tuesday evening, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi demanded full Iranian control and threatened to keep the strait closed if Oman rejected the demand. Later Tuesday evening, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran had rejected the Omani proposal for joint management, and another official insisted that only Iran and Oman can decide on arrangements. This morning at 08:06 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported a similar insistence from a senior official on Iranian control of all transit routes. The latest statement, attributed to the same official, confirms the rejection and adds that the proposal has 'no chance of succeeding.'
The crisis dates to early June, when Iran's newly formed Strait of Hormuz Authority formalized an indefinite closure of the waterway, as The Zioneer reported on June 11. Since then, Tehran has sought to institutionalize control over the chokepoint. Oman, which has historically served as a diplomatic intermediary, has been caught in the middle. In mid-June, senior Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Nabavian warned that involving Oman in the strait's management would cross the Supreme Leader's red lines. By late June, reports indicated that the IRGC had lost effective control as 70% of traffic shifted to Omani waters. Earlier this month, Iran initiated talks in Muscat, and regional diplomats reported progress on a temporary middle route, but Tehran's position has now hardened.
It remains unclear whether a diplomatic resolution remains viable. The Iranian official said that if the terms require anything other than full Iranian control, 'the discussion is not over,' leaving the door open to further talks. However, the official's characterization of the Omani proposal as having 'no chance of succeeding' suggests a significant setback for mediation efforts. Oman's role in the ongoing negotiations is uncertain, and the status of the temporary solution remains in doubt.
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