Iran Seeks Inbound Control of Hormuz Shipping in Temporary Reopening Plan

Iran is seeking control over inbound commercial shipping and oversight of outbound traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a temporary reopening plan under discussion with Oman, according to a senior Iranian source cited by Reuters.

The demand clarifies the central dispute beneath the broader claims of diplomatic progress reported earlier Tuesday. The issue is not simply whether vessels can resume using the waterway. It is who would control their movement, what information Iran would receive and whether Tehran could intervene after a ship entered or prepared to leave.

Reuters reported that Iran wants authority over inbound traffic and notification of outbound movements. Oman would provide exit clearance under the proposal, while Iran would retain the ability to act if it considered a vessel a security threat.

A Narrower Demand, but Still a Major Shift

Iran had previously sought control over shipping in both directions. The current proposal appears to reduce that demand by assigning outbound clearance to Oman, but it would still give Tehran a formal role over traffic through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

That would be more than a temporary safety arrangement. It could establish a precedent in which Iran gains operational influence over an internationally used passage that has historically relied on a United Nations-endorsed traffic-separation system and navigation through both Iranian and Omani waters.

The proposal therefore combines two very different objectives: reopening commercial traffic and changing who governs it.

Why Inbound Control Matters

Inbound control could allow Iran to identify vessels, cargoes, destinations and operators before ships enter the Gulf. That information could be used for maritime security, but it could also create leverage over companies and governments that Tehran considers hostile.

For commercial operators, the practical questions would include:

• whether ships must obtain Iranian approval before entering
• what documentation or tracking data must be provided
• whether naval escorts or military-linked cargoes would be restricted
• how disputes would be resolved
• whether Iran could delay or deny passage without an independent review mechanism

Even a temporary system would affect insurance, chartering, routing and military planning. Shipping companies need predictable rules. A process that depends on discretionary approval by a combatant government would remain difficult to price and potentially dangerous to use.

Oman Is the Essential Counterweight

Oman’s proposed role in outbound clearance appears designed to prevent Iran from exercising total control. Muscat has long served as an intermediary between Iran, the United States and Gulf states, and its territorial waters form part of the strait’s navigational system.

A workable arrangement would likely require Oman to provide credible monitoring, communications and dispute resolution—not merely transmit Iranian decisions.

The current proposal also shows why indirect mediation has advanced without producing a settlement. Qatar, Pakistan and Oman can carry messages and draft terms, but the underlying disagreement concerns sovereignty, security and control of global trade.

Reopening Is Not the Same as Normalization

Shipping traffic through Hormuz remains far below normal levels. Reuters reported that vessel movements had changed little despite optimism around mediation, while attacks and the risk of renewed strikes continue to shape commercial decisions.

A limited reopening agreement could reduce immediate pressure on oil markets and Gulf exporters. It would not restore normal navigation if carriers still face uncertain approval procedures, threat of interception or rapidly changing military conditions.

The distinction matters for policymakers and markets. Diplomatic progress can lower the probability of escalation without resolving the operational problem. Iran’s proposal provides the clearest indication yet of what Tehran expects in return for reopening the strait.

The next test is whether Oman and the United States accept any formal Iranian role over inbound shipping—and whether commercial operators consider the resulting system safe enough to use.