**Iran and Oman have advanced technical talks on designated safe transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian officials confirming agreement on geographical coordinates and communication to international maritime bodies around October 7–8, 2026.** Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and spokesmen have repeatedly stated that this framework does not reopen the strait or lift restrictions; full restoration of navigation remains conditional on the United States returning to commitments under the Islamabad memorandum, including ending the naval blockade of Iranian ports that has been enforced since mid-2026 with recent actions such as the October 10 strike on a vessel attempting to breach it. Oman has clarified that any bilateral arrangements must align with UNCLOS and international law, excluding unilateral fees or vetting of traffic. Ongoing enforcement of the blockade and Iranian preconditions for reopening have kept the two processes decoupled in recent weeks, aligning with trader assessments that the blockade is unlikely to end ahead of further Hormuz route understandings.