Iran Draft Would Block U.S. and Israeli Ships From Strait of Hormuz

A reported Iranian proposal would bar U.S. naval vessels, Israeli ships and certain other traffic from the strategic waterway, while Washington insists any temporary arrangement must preserve unrestricted navigation without tolls or approvals.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Iran is considering a draft framework that would prohibit U.S. and Israeli ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz and impose penalties worth as much as 20% of a vessel’s cargo value on violators, according to the state-affiliated Fars News Agency.

The reported restrictions emerged as President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that a broader agreement with Iran to reopen the strait could be announced soon. U.S. officials, however, rejected any proposal that would require permission, impose charges or limit access to the international waterway.

Fars, citing a member of Iran’s parliament, reported that the draft would block U.S. naval vessels and Israeli ships from transiting the strait. Israeli cargo ships and vessels connected to Israel would also be prohibited.

The restrictions would reportedly extend to countries and individuals that Iran claims have “caused damage to Iran” until compensation is paid. Anyone violating the proposed rules could face penalties of up to 20% of the value of the vessel’s cargo.

A U.S. official dismissed those provisions, saying any temporary shipping arrangement would maintain open passage.

“Any temporary routes will be without any impediments — meaning no approvals or permissions and no tolls or charges,” the official told CNBC.

“The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them,” the official added.

Iranian officials said Thursday that Tehran and Oman were nearing completion of a separate understanding governing commercial traffic through the strait.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in remarks carried by the state-run IRNA news agency that an Iran-Oman “understanding” was close to being finalized.

Gharibabadi denied that Iran was engaged in direct negotiations with the United States, although he said Washington was prepared to “return to commitments.”

He did not identify the commitments, but CNBC said the remarks appeared to refer to an interim memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran in June.

Under that agreement, Iran allowed commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz without charge for 60 days. In return, the United States agreed to ease its naval blockade of Iranian shipping and continue negotiations, according to CNBC.

Gharibabadi maintained that the current arrangement was being negotiated solely between Iran and Oman and said no direct U.S.-Iran talks had taken place during that period.

He also argued that existing shipping lanes through the strait no longer meet Iran’s security requirements and said new routes are needed because of changing regional conditions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei similarly said an agreement was approaching completion, provided outside parties did not interfere.

An Iranian government official involved in the discussions told CNBC that the temporary arrangement with Oman would permit commercial vessels to pass through the strait without fees or tolls.

The official said inbound traffic would travel through Iranian territorial waters, while outbound vessels would use a route closer to Oman.

According to CNBC, the official also said the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization and the United States would participate in announcing the agreement and that members of the Gulf Cooperation Council had endorsed the framework.

The developments followed a Tuesday report from Axios that the United States, Iran and Oman were nearing an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Bessent also said earlier in the week that an agreement restoring access to the critical shipping route could be reached quickly.

The diplomatic effort followed U.S. preparations for another major military campaign against Iran after the June conflict. Pentagon planners developed options for a renewed large-scale bombardment of Iranian targets, but the White House ultimately continued pursuing negotiations, Newsmax reported Thursday.

The Trump administration disputed reports that the operation was abandoned because the United States lacked sufficient precision-guided munitions. Officials rejected claims that American weapons stockpiles were inadequate to support further military action.

Trump said Monday that discussions with Iran were continuing “whether Iran wants to admit it or not,” while accusing Tehran’s leadership of being “duplicitous” about the talks.

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that the southern shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, which passes through Omani territorial waters, remained open to all commercial vessels seeking to use the international passage.

The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and ranks among the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption, along with substantial shipments of liquefied natural gas, passes through the narrow waterway.

Any interruption to shipping could therefore affect international energy markets, global trade and commercial transportation.

Regional security concerns remained elevated Thursday after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received reports of explosions near commercial tankers off Yemen and Oman on Wednesday, even as diplomatic negotiations over the strait continued.