Oman Offers Two-Route Hormuz Plan as Iran Talks Continue

Oman has put a new Strait of Hormuz proposal before Iran that would keep traffic moving through two separately controlled routes, one near Iran and one near Oman, with no tolls charged while talks continue. The proposal follows U.S. demands that Tehran publicly guarantee open shipping and stop attacks on commercial vessels after Iranian-linked fire pushed the interim deal toward collapse. Regional reporting says Iranian, Omani and Qatari officials met in Muscat, with diplomats also examining median-lane or voluntary-service-fee models that do not hand Tehran compulsory toll power. For Israel, free navigation through Hormuz protects the regional pressure campaign against Iran from becoming a hostage to IRGC maritime coercion.