Iran and Oman have moved closer to a proposed maritime agreement that could reshape the movement of commercial ships through the vital route. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that agreeing on a navigation route is only one piece of the puzzle. Under the proposal, ships entering the Persian Gulf would sail through a route monitored by Iran, while vessels leaving the Gulf would use a corridor managed by Oman. The idea is aimed at reducing the risk of military incidents and ensuring smoother passage for commercial shipping. Although Tehran insists it is negotiating directly only with Oman, Washington says indirect communication between the United States and Iran is continuing through Omani mediation.