Qatar's foreign ministry said Iran and Oman have reached the technical stage of negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The restoration of this strategic waterway is critical to preventing further global economic disruption following a sharp decline in commercial shipping caused by the Israel-Iran war.

Officials in Doha said negotiators are currently finalizing shipping-route coordinates to allow vessels back into the passage [1, 2]. This technical progress comes as the region faces a severe maritime standstill. On Monday, only six vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz [1]. Before the war, the waterway typically saw between 130 and 140 vessels per day [1].

While Qatar sees positive signs, other reports indicate a more complex diplomatic landscape. Some Iranian officials said Iran will not reopen the Strait until the United States meets specific conditions [2]. This creates a contradiction with reports from Tehran stating that talks with Oman are advancing positively [3].

Other observers said that while Iran and Oman are close to an agreement, they are not yet ready for a full reopening of the passage [4]. Qatar said delays in finalizing the agreement must be avoided to prevent prolonged economic instability.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the world's most important oil transit chokepoint. The current collapse in traffic represents a significant risk to energy markets and global trade logistics. Negotiators are working to balance technical maritime safety with broader political demands involving the U.S. and regional security [1, 2].

“Only six vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, compared with 130-140 vessels per day before the war.”

The discrepancy between the technical progress reported by Qatar and the political demands issued by Tehran suggests that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is being used as leverage. While the maritime coordinates may be settled, the actual resumption of traffic likely depends on a broader diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the U.S. rather than a simple technical agreement with Oman.