Iran and Oman Reach Agreement on Strait of Hormuz Water Boundaries
A formal division of maritime jurisdiction in one of the world's most trafficked energy chokepoints could shift the terms under which international shipping and regional powers negotiate access.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced Wednesday that Tehran and Muscat have reached an agreement defining each party's share of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the allocation of revenues associated with the passage, according to Al Bawaba.
The IRGC statement, as reported by Al Bawaba, included a claim that the Iranian navy holds full control of the strait and denied the presence of any adversarial military vessels in those waters. The IRGC described the passage as being under Iran's "full control."
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway located between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, approximately 20 to 21 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait in recent years, representing roughly 20 percent of global petroleum liquids consumption.
Oman has historically maintained a policy of diplomatic engagement with Iran that distinguishes it from other Gulf Cooperation Council members. Muscat served as a back-channel intermediary in negotiations between Tehran and Washington on multiple occasions, including during discussions that preceded the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as documented by the Brookings Institution and contemporaneous reporting by Reuters.
The precise legal framework of Wednesday's agreement has not been published in full. It is not yet clear whether the arrangement constitutes a formal bilateral treaty, a memorandum of understanding, or an informal operational accord. Publication of the full document would reveal which legal instruments bind each party and what mechanisms exist for dispute resolution.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Oman is a party, states bordering a strait used for international navigation are required to permit transit passage. Iran has not ratified UNCLOS, a distinction that affects how Tehran characterizes its jurisdictional claims in the strait, according to the UN Treaty Collection records.
The IRGC's assertion of full naval control over the strait is a recurring element of Iranian strategic communication. In July 2019, Iran seized the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero in the strait, an incident documented by the UK government and widely reported at the time. The strait has also been the site of previous Iranian threats to close the waterway during periods of heightened sanctions pressure.
Oman's willingness to formalize any aspect of maritime jurisdiction with Iran is notable given that Oman itself borders the strait and depends on unimpeded passage for its own trade and energy exports. The Omani government had not issued a public statement independently confirming the agreement as of the time of this report.
The agreement's revenue-sharing component raises additional questions. The strait does not currently operate under a formal toll or transit fee system recognized by international maritime law. What specific revenues are being referenced, and through what mechanism they would be collected or divided, has not been explained in available reporting.
The United States Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, has maintained a continuous naval presence in the broader Persian Gulf region for decades with the stated objective of protecting freedom of navigation, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command public records. How the U.S. Government or allied navies would respond to any operational changes in the strait arising from this agreement is not yet known.
Regional analysts and international maritime law bodies have not yet commented publicly on the legal standing or practical implications of the announced accord. Further details are expected to emerge as Oman responds officially and as the text of any agreement becomes available.