Oman

NOW: Reports of a vessel on fire off Kumzar, Oman.

IRGC: Reopening Hormuz is Iran’s decision alone, unrelated to the Oman talks. It happens only when the US fully accepts Iran’s conditions.

Iran Foreign Ministry: The Oman deal is close but does not reopen the strait. Full reopening depends on the US honoring the June memorandum. ‘Iran is talking to Oman, not to US.’

(The Oman deal is not the reopening. It sets shipping lanes. The standoff between US and Iran for now stays.)

Earlier today, a vessel was hit by an unknown projectile 18 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman, on 8 August. The resulting fire was quickly put out with no injuries or crew harm. - UKMTO

Iran FM Araghchi: Talks with Oman on a temporary transit route through the Strait of Hormuz are nearing agreement, but this does not mean the strait will reopen. Full reopening depends on other conditions and U.S. compensation for violations.

A deal between Oman and Iran on the Strait of Hormuz is expected soon, with progress already made, a U.S. official said.

Iran's negotiators are awaiting final sign-off from the Supreme National Security Council on the deal with Oman and the U.S., per Axios.

A mediating diplomat: "We expect this approval soon."

Oman is responding to the Caroline Bezengi vessel incident near the Hallaniyat Islands to limit potential environmental impact.

NEW

Fars News: Vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will reportedly be consolidated into a single central shipping lane under joint Iranian and Omani oversight, replacing the current northern and southern corridors.

Iran plans to route all Strait of Hormuz traffic through a central corridor, managing entry itself and sharing exit control with Oman. Transit fees would fall under service charges, a source told Fars News.

I have a feeling Iran and Oman are about to announce new shipping rules for the Strait of Hormuz that would limit which vessels can transit.

A potential outcome:

The U.S. will declare the Strait is open.

Iran’s response: Not so fast. Only under our rules.

Oman and Iran to issue a Hormuz transit corridor statement soon.

Al Arabiya: Iran and Oman may announce a deal "within days" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

A tanker master reported hearing two explosions while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, 9NM southeast of Kumzar, Oman. Crew and vessel are safe.

UKMTO has downgraded its attack warning to an advisory after review could not conclusively identify the intended target. - UKMTO

Pakistan Foreign Ministry: Oman played an important role in resolving the Hormuz issue.

Iran's deputy FM: A transit route negotiated with Oman could remain viable for 2 to 4 months. - IRNA

A joint announcement on shipping coordinates through the Strait of Hormuz is being finalized between Tehran and Muscat, provided third parties don't interfere, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Wednesday.

A joint statement is being prepared on the coordinates for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Ministry says. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Muscat have agreed on the route and will publish it unless "some third parties obstruct work in this regard."

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman:

Iran-Oman agreement alone cannot guarantee Strait of Hormuz shipping safety due to US naval blockade and other actions against Iran.

NEW:Iranian and Omani negotiators have finalized a draft deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, now awaiting final sign-off from Iran's supreme leader, regional officials told AP. Built on the Memorandum of Understanding framework, the temporary transit pact is designed to clear the way for renewed U.S.-Iran talks on Tehran's nuclear program.

A proposed Iran-Oman deal could hand Tehran a degree of control over ships entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian official and two regional sources told Reuters.

They say key details remain unresolved, including actual control of the strait and how voluntary tolls would be paid. One regional source said a concession was made on some degree of control over Hormuz.

Oman and Iran could reach a deal on the Strait of Hormuz "provided the United States ceases its interventions," pro-Iranian Lebanese channel al-Mayadeen reports, citing "relatively positive moods" in Tehran.

Iranian state TV: Hormuz reopening depends on a change in U.S. behavior. The Iran-Oman talks are unrelated to any immediate reopening.

The U.S., Iran and Oman are closing in on an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. aiming for a Wednesday announcement, regional sources and a U.S. official told Axios.