Oman rejects US pressure to sever Iran ties over Strait of Hormuz

Oman is resisting US pressure to distance itself from Iran, insisting that its engagement with Tehran has focused solely on discussions about a future management framework for the Strait of Hormuz that would comply with international law.

According to Omani officials, any future arrangement would be implemented only after consultation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), reports The Guardian.

The sultanate, a long-standing US ally that shares responsibility for overseeing the strategically important waterway, has traditionally positioned itself as a neutral mediator in regional disputes.

Oman has often served as a back-channel diplomatic conduit, allowing it to maintain relations with competing regional powers.

While maintaining neutrality, Oman has criticised Israel's actions in the region and on Wednesday condemned Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.

The issue gained prominence after US President Donald Trump last week threatened military action against Oman in remarks that drew widespread attention. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later reinforced Washington's concerns during testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"There isn't a country on Earth other than Iran – and maybe Oman that flirted with it – who's in favour of what Iran is doing in the straits," Rubio said.

In response, Oman's ambassador to Washington, Talal bin Suleiman al-Rahbi, reportedly held discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and State Department officials, seeking to reassure Washington that Oman opposes any toll system and remains committed to freedom of navigation.

Iran has indicated that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could return to pre-war levels within a month under a future agreement. At the same time, Tehran has established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a body sanctioned by the US Treasury, through which vessels would be required to seek permission to transit the waterway.

Iranian officials argue that a proposed fee system would be non-discriminatory and designed to fund environmental protection and address damage caused by military activities in the region.

Arman Khorsand, head of Iran's Department of Environment Center for International Affairs and Environmental Conventions, said the objective was not simply to charge vessels for passage but to secure resources needed to address environmental damage and compensate for violations of the principle of innocent passage.

Other Iranian commentators, including Saeed Laylaz, have urged caution, warning that attempts to generate direct revenue from the strait could provoke international opposition.

Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ali Nikzad, said efforts are under way to consolidate several draft laws into a definitive legal framework governing maritime operations in the strait.

However, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told the UN Security Council on 27 April that there is no legal basis for countries to impose tolls, fees or discriminatory conditions on vessels transiting international straits.

Some Omani lawmakers have nevertheless expressed support for charging fees for specific maritime services. Mohammed Suleiman Tamim al-Hinai said Oman respects international maritime law and does not impose transit fees, but does provide services such as navigation support, search and rescue operations, and maritime protection.

Despite Oman's assurances, US officials remain concerned that Muscat may be considering a fee structure that could effectively function as a toll system.

The US Treasury reiterated on 29 May that American citizens are prohibited from receiving services from the Iranian government, including services related to guarantees of safe passage through the strait.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states may regulate passage through their territorial waters for safety, environmental and maritime-order reasons. They may also charge for specific services provided to vessels, provided such charges are transparent and non-discriminatory.

US concerns regarding Oman's position date back to the period immediately before the Israel-US conflict with Iran, when Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi publicly urged more time for diplomatic negotiations, saying an agreement with Iran was within reach. Oman had been serving as a mediator in those talks.