Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Iran Keeps Strait of Hormuz Militarily Closed, Offers Oman Route
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz has not reopened, even though it agreed with Oman on a temporary shipping route.
The route would allow commercial ships to enter the Persian Gulf through Iranian waters.
Ships leaving the Gulf would use Omani territorial waters, but they would also pass through Iranian waters.
The route would be about seven miles wide.
Military ships would not be allowed to use it.
Iran and Oman plan to discuss a permanent route within 30 to 60 days.
Iran says the route was designed with help from its armed forces.
Iran says the waterway is important to its national security because it suffered damage under the previous arrangement.
Donald Trump warned that the United States would respond immediately if new mines were placed in international waters.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz remains militarily closed.
A temporary route would let ships enter the Persian Gulf through Iranian waters and exit through Omani territorial waters.
The proposed route is about seven miles wide and would permit commercial vessels, but not military vessels.
Iran and Oman are expected to negotiate a permanent maritime route within 30 to 60 days.
Donald Trump warned that new Iranian mines in international waters would trigger an immediate United States military response.
- Who
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran, Oman, Donald Trump, and the United States are central to the report.
- What
- Iran and Oman agreed on a temporary maritime route, but Iran says the arrangement does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz militarily.
- When
- Kazem Gharibabadi spoke on Tuesday night; Donald Trump issued his warning on Tuesday local time; permanent-route talks are expected within 30 to 60 days.
- Where
- The proposed route concerns the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, Iranian waters, Omani territorial waters, and international waters.
- Why
- Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran considers the strait a national-security matter and wants fundamental changes after what he described as severe damage under the previous maritime arrangement.
Iranian Position
United States Warning
Status of the strait
Iranian Position
Iran says the temporary understanding with Oman is not a reopening and that the Strait of Hormuz remains militarily closed.
United States Warning
Donald Trump’s warning treats international waters in the Strait of Hormuz as an area where new Iranian mining could prompt a United States military response.
Shipping access
Iranian Position
Iran says the temporary route is for commercial vessels only and excludes military ships.
United States Warning
The United States warning focuses on preventing new mines in international waters and does not endorse Iran’s restrictions on military vessels.
Control of maritime routes
Iranian Position
Iran says its armed forces led the technical design of the route because the strait is a national-security matter.
United States Warning
Donald Trump warned that any vessel involved in placing new mines would be immediately and systematically destroyed.
- Current status
- Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains militarily closed and will not reopen immediately.
- Temporary route
- Ships would enter the Persian Gulf through Iranian waters and leave through Omani territorial waters; ships would pass through Iranian waters in both directions.
- Route width
- The proposed route would have a total width of about seven miles.
- Permitted vessels
- Only commercial vessels would be allowed to use the temporary route; military vessels would be excluded.
- Permanent arrangement
- Iran and Oman are expected to negotiate a new permanent route within 30 to 60 days.
- Iranian coordination
- The joint working group includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ports and Maritime Organization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Navy, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
- United States warning
- Donald Trump said mines had been removed or detonated from international waters and warned that vessels laying new mines would be immediately and systematically destroyed.
