Oman Proposes 'Voluntary Toll' System to Iran for Strait of Hormuz

Oman, a country bordering the Strait of Hormuz, has proposed to Iran the establishment of a joint management system for the strait, including the collection of voluntary tolls, Reuters reported on the 28th (local time), citing regional sources.

The source stated, "Under Oman's proposal, which is supported by countries in the region, Iran will no longer exercise sole control over the Strait of Hormuz."

Oman's proposal is reportedly modeled after the Malacca Strait, where strait users voluntarily contribute funds to cover navigation, environmental protection, and search and rescue operations.

Until now, Iran has claimed that the United States recognized its control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing Article 5 of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on ending the war signed with the U.S.

Based on this provision, Iran has recently launched multiple attacks on vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz outside of designated lanes.

In response, the U.S. carried out airstrikes against Iran, and Iran retaliated with strikes on U.S. military bases in the region, raising concerns over the resumption of all-out war.

However, the U.S. abruptly halted its airstrike operations targeting Iran following the 23rd, and Iran has also suspended its military actions against the U.S.

In tandem with this, mediator nations such as Pakistan and Qatar have proposed a 10-day truce plan, fueling expectations for a diplomatic solution to resume vessel operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump also stated that the U.S. is having "good talks" with Iran and that an agreement is possible.

However, he did not forget to warn that U.S. airstrikes would resume if the negotiations fail.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the issue of the Strait of Hormuz over the phone the previous day with the foreign ministers of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that during the call, Minister Araghchi emphasized "the need to strengthen cooperation and advance joint diplomatic efforts to establish regional stability and resolve the instability in the Strait of Hormuz caused by aggressive U.S. actions."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.