Countries striking side deals with Iran to secure oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are raising fresh concerns among Gulf exporters, as the lack of progress in US-Iran peace talks fuels fears that Tehran could entrench its new control over one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Reuters reported that Iraq and Pakistan have reached arrangements with Tehran to ensure the passage of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes through the strait, which normally carries around 20% of global oil and LNG supplies.
The deals underscore how Iran appears to be shifting from threatening to block the waterway to selectively controlling access to it, a development that could unsettle major Gulf producers.
According to Reuters, Iraq secured safe passage on Sunday for two very large crude carriers, each carrying about 2 million barrels of oil, under a previously undisclosed arrangement with Tehran. Iraqi officials are now seeking approval for additional shipments as Baghdad tries to protect oil revenues that account for the overwhelming bulk of government income.
Pakistan has also reached a separate understanding with Iran to allow LNG cargoes from Qatar to pass through the strait. Two Qatari LNG tankers bound for Pakistan are already en route, Reuters reported.
Sources told Reuters that other countries are exploring similar arrangements, raising the prospect that Tehran’s de facto oversight of shipping through Hormuz could become increasingly institutionalised if diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked.
The developments come as hopes for a breakthrough in US-Iran peace talks continue to fade. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he did not believe he would need the help of Chinese President Xi Jinping to end the conflict.
Trump is expected to discuss the crisis with Xi during meetings in Beijing later this week, where Washington is likely to urge China — one of Iran’s closest trading partners and a major buyer of its oil — to persuade Tehran to return to negotiations.
Meanwhile, Iran's IRNA news agency said Iranian and Omani delegations have met to discuss the latest developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz and arrangements for the safe passage of ships.
The talks, which were held in Muscat are part of ongoing bilateral consultations between the two countries at various levels on regional developments and mutual relations. The Iranian delegation was led by Abbas Bagherpour, the director general of International Law Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, and included representatives from relevant government bodies.
During the session, both sides emphasized their sovereign rights and jurisdictions over the strait as part of their territorial waters. The Iranian delegation also held separate talks with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.
In addition, Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who was in Oman at the same time, met with the Iranian delegation to discuss related technical issues, IRNA said.
