The first meeting of the Iran-Oman joint committee on the Strait of Hormuz convened in Muscat, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed. The committee, established under the recent Islamabad memorandum of understanding, is mandated to negotiate the future administration of the strait and associated maritime services. Gharibabadi stated that Iran is determined to reach an understanding with Oman, but warned that if Oman does not cooperate, Iran will proceed alone. He also rejected any foreign role in demining, responding to an offer by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi clarified Muscat’s position: the sultanate does not support imposing transit tolls, which it considers prohibited under international law, but is open to discussing fees for specific services such as navigational safety, pollution prevention, and emergency preparedness. He cited the Malacca and Singapore straits as possible models. According to legal analyses published by the Conversation and carried by Iranian outlets, the Strait of Hormuz is an international strait where all vessels enjoy the right of transit passage under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; coastal states cannot suspend this right or levy tolls for mere passage. The main shipping lane lies in Omani waters, making unilateral enforcement by Iran difficult.

Under the temporary 60-day arrangement in the MoU, Iran is to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels without charge and complete demining within 30 days. Gharibabadi said a working group in Iran is monitoring implementation, including alleged violations concerning Lebanon, where he called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Meanwhile, the United States announced a meeting in Doha with Iranian representatives, but Gharibabadi denied any direct talks, stating that Iranian experts are in Qatar solely to pursue the issue of frozen funds through Qatari mediation.

The joint committee will continue its work, and Iran has indicated it will also consult other Gulf coastal states. Expert-level discussions on frozen assets are expected to proceed in Doha. The dossier remains sensitive, with Iran asserting its strategic capacity in the strait while insisting that any new arrangements must respect national security and international law.