Iran and Oman are finalizing a bilateral agreement to manage navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s daily oil supply passes. Under this emerging deal, Iran would control inbound maritime routes while Oman oversees outbound traffic, with both nations planning to introduce service fees for transiting vessels. The negotiations, reported as of August 4, 2026, deliberately exclude American participation, signaling a broader trend of regional powers building economic infrastructure independent of US approval. This bilateral arrangement implicitly challenges the role of the US Fifth Fleet and the broader American security architecture in the Gulf region.
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