Iran and Oman are jointly proposing a plan that would require commercial vessels to pay transit fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The strait is one of the world's most strategically vital waterways, with roughly 20 percent of global oil shipments passing through it daily.

Alongside the fee proposal, Iran has issued warnings to oil tankers that they must use officially approved routes within the strait or face what Iranian authorities described as a forceful response. The warnings signal Tehran's intent to assert greater control over maritime traffic in the waterway, raising concerns among shipping companies and oil-importing nations.

The proposal is being floated in the context of broader diplomatic activity between Iran and the United States, including ongoing nuclear talks facilitated in part by Oman, which has historically served as a back-channel intermediary between Washington and Tehran. Oman's involvement in the fee plan underscores its continued role as a regional broker.

Analysts note that any enforcement of transit fees or route restrictions on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes could have significant consequences for global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is the only sea route out of the gulf for major oil exporters including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq.

It remains unclear whether the fee plan has received any formal acknowledgment from the United States or other major maritime powers. The proposal adds a new dimension of complexity to already tense negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and its broader regional posture.