Muscat Talks Pivot to ‘Middle Corridor’ as Iran Asserts Strait Sovereignty
Negotiators weigh a limited opening of international waters as Washington demands total maritime freedom.
Negotiations in Muscat have shifted toward a specific technical compromise—the reopening of a “Middle Corridor” in the Strait of Hormuz—as Qatar joins Iran and Oman in an effort to restore maritime navigation. The proposal, reported by Axios, centers on a statement that would permit full and free movement through international waters, potentially bypassing the more contentious territorial lanes controlled by the coastal states.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced Saturday that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, to discuss “appropriate mechanisms for the safe passage of ships” under existing bilateral agreements. While the talks focus on a limited geographic opening, the diplomatic friction remains centered on who holds the keys to the world’s most vital oil chokepoint.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the legal regime of transit passage applies to straits used for international navigation. However, Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, told reporters outside the Security Council that any activity in the Strait of Hormuz, including minesweeping or reopening lanes, remains the exclusive responsibility of Tehran. Iravani warned that any “power-sharing arrangement” involving external parties would violate current temporary agreements and jeopardize regional security.
This assertion of sovereignty directly contradicts the Trump administration’s mandate. U.S. officials told Reuters and the Associated Press that Washington is demanding a public declaration from Tehran that all lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are open, with a guarantee against future attacks and the imposition of transit fees. The U.S. position remains firm: without a total opening, the diplomatic track offers little benefit to Iran.
The inclusion of Qatar in the Muscat sessions follows intense diplomatic mediation involving Doha and Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate discussions with the Iranian presidency and the Qatari Emir on Friday, urging restraint. Despite the high stakes, the U.S. is maintaining a distance from the physical table; CBS News reported that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are not attending the Muscat talks, with American officials instead communicating remotely through Omani and Qatari intermediaries.
Internal Iranian politics appear to be complicating the timeline. U.S. officials noted that recent attacks on shipping were characterized by some Iranian representatives as a “mistake” by hardline factions seeking to derail a ceasefire. President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected this distinction, signaling that the U.S. will hold the Iranian state accountable regardless of internal divisions.
The maritime issue is now inextricably linked to Iran’s nuclear status. The U.S. has signaled that any broader agreement requires Tehran to surrender its stock of high-enriched uranium. This material, which reached significant levels following the regional escalations of mid-2025, remains a primary leverage point for Washington.
As the Muscat talks continue, the focus on the Middle Corridor represents a narrow attempt to de-escalate, though it falls short of the comprehensive maritime freedom demanded by the White House. President Trump has indicated that the temporary ceasefire is effectively over, leaving negotiators a narrow window to secure a permanent resolution before the U.S. pivots to more aggressive military or economic alternatives.
