Oman has stopped cooperating with the United States on escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, ending one of the longest-standing security partnerships in the Persian Gulf. The strait, barely 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, handles roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Since the US-Iran ceasefire of April 8, 2026, Muscat has pursued independent arrangements with Tehran, with both countries issuing a joint statement in June 2026 affirming sovereignty over their respective territorial waters. Tanker traffic has fallen sharply, war-risk insurance premiums have surged, and Washington is threatening sanctions against Oman for what it sees as enabling potential Iranian influence over the waterway.
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