Oman and Iran continue Strait of Hormuz talks as shipping stays disrupted

Oman and Iran are continuing talks on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as commercial traffic remains sharply disrupted by escalating U.S.-Iran clashes. U.S. President Donald Trump said the strait remains open, and U.S. Central Command said traffic is still flowing along a route near Oman’s coast, while Iran has said the waterway was temporarily closed and that vessels would not be allowed through until further notice. The Joint Maritime Information Center said the southern route remained open but kept the threat level at “severe,” warning mariners about naval radio contact and possible mines. Central Command also said U.S. forces have helped more than 800 commercial vessels and 400 million barrels of crude transit the strait since early May and that it has struck 300 Iranian targets over the past week to reduce attacks on shipping. Oman has reportedly proposed two separately controlled shipping corridors, one through Omani waters and one through Iranian waters, but no agreement has been finalized.