Trump says Iran and Oman will not control Strait of Hormuz, deal remains elusive
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US President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected a reported draft agreement suggesting that Iran and Oman would jointly manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader deal aimed at ending the ongoing war.
The remarks came after Iranian state media reported the existence of an unofficial draft outlining a framework to restore commercial traffic through the strategic waterway and ease tensions in the region.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump pushed back against the reported arrangement, insisting the waterway would remain under international rules rather than any single country’s control.
“Nobody’s going to control it,” Trump said. “It’s international waters.”
He added that Oman would have to act in line with international norms, warning of consequences if that did not happen. The comments were not followed by an immediate response from either Omani or Iranian officials.
Iranian state television reported that the draft proposal included provisions for Iran and Oman to jointly manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.
The report also claimed the United States would lift restrictions on Iranian ports and reduce military presence near Iran. However, the White House dismissed those claims as inaccurate, calling them a “complete fabrication.”
Tehran has not formally confirmed the existence of such a draft.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, with a significant share of global crude shipments passing through it daily.
Before the current conflict, the waterway handled roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Shipping volumes have since declined amid ongoing instability in the region.
The US military maintains a substantial presence across the Gulf, with thousands of troops stationed at regional bases and naval forces regularly transiting the area.
Nuclear talks remain unresolved
The reported draft did not include Iran’s nuclear program, a central sticking point in negotiations.
US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reiterated that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, while Tehran continues to insist its nuclear activities are peaceful.
The competing positions highlight continued deadlock despite earlier suggestions from Washington that a preliminary agreement could be close.
