The New York Times reported that Iranian and Omani officials are closing in on a framework that would create separate shipping lanes, with inbound vessels to the Persian Gulf travelling through a channel controlled by Iran and outbound traffic using a route closer to Oman. Iranian officials quoted by NYT said the proposal includes a “service fee”, rather than a toll, to cover environmental protection, security and staffing, with revenue shared equally between Iran and Oman.

However, a US official familiar with the negotiations rejected that account, telling the publication that any temporary navigation arrangements would not require Iranian permission or involve tolls or fees. According to the official, any revised shipping routes would be temporary and would preserve freedom of navigation.

The reported differences reflect broader disagreements over what the negotiations are intended to achieve.

Trump says talks are underway; Iran disagrees

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said the United States and Iran had resumed discussions and suggested an agreement could be reached quickly.

“They’re going to go quickly one way or the other. It’s not very complex,” Trump said, adding that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen “literally by tomorrow”. He also described reopening the strait as the “first phase”, with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme expected to follow.

Trump on Iran:

Talks will go quickly, one way or the other. It’s not very complex.

We are talking about opening the strait tomorrow, completely open.

Then we will talk about the nuclear capacity of Iran. pic.twitter.com/jHJTsdxK3S

— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 3, 2026

But Iran has publicly disputed Trump’s characterisation. News agency Associated Press reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran is not negotiating directly with Washington. Instead, he said Iran’s discussions are only with Oman and are limited to establishing a temporary route for safe navigation through the strait.

Trump responded on his Truth Social platform by accusing Iranian leaders of sending contradictory signals.

“Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous,” he wrote, insisting discussions with Tehran were taking place despite Iran’s public denials.

What Iran wants

According to the NYT, Iranian officials say the strait would remain closed until two conditions are met: the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf, and both countries return to the framework outlined in the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

Iran also reportedly sees the proposed arrangement as a way to formalise strategic leverage over the waterway.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, told the NYT  that Tehran considers continued influence over the Strait of Hormuz one of its few strategic gains from the war.

“Whatever solution leaves Iran in control of the strait will be a very tough sell for Trump but there is also no military solution to remove Iran’s control of the strait,” Vaez said. “Trump’s options are between an unwinnable war and an unpalatable peace.”

US concerns over freedom of navigation

The reported arrangement appears to conflict with repeated statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has argued that no country should be allowed to exercise control over an international shipping lane.

Rubio has warned that allowing any nation to control access to the Strait of Hormuz or charge vessels for passage would create a dangerous precedent for global trade and undermine the principle of freedom of navigation.

Fresh security concerns

Even as diplomatic discussions continue, shipping risks remain high.

The AP report said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a cargo ship reported being struck by an unidentified projectile overnight while sailing northeast of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula near the Strait of Hormuz. The agency did not immediately identify the vessel or report casualties.

The incident underscores continuing security risks in the waterway despite renewed diplomatic efforts.

Why it matters to India

The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most important energy chokepoints, handling roughly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the conflict disrupted traffic. India imports a significant share of its crude oil from Gulf producers, making any long-term arrangement governing navigation through the strait strategically important for its energy security, shipping costs and trade.

(With inputs from agencies)