Oman proposes joint mechanism with Iran for managing Strait of Hormuz

Oman has proposed a joint mechanism with Iran to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, under which vessels would make voluntary fees for passage, a Gulf source said on Tuesday.

Neither Oman nor Iran has officially confirmed the report. The source said the proposed mechanism draws on the management model of the Malacca Strait, where users make voluntary fees to a fund for environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations.

The initiative has received backing from some regional countries, though it remains unclear how Iran will respond, according to the source. Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia have called for intensifying joint diplomatic efforts to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.