The Strait of Hormuz reopening is at the centre of a new diplomatic proposal by Qatar, which is seeking to persuade Iran to allow international nuclear inspectors access to facilities damaged by US and Israeli strikes.
The proposal is intended to break the deadlock between Washington and Tehran by linking the reopening of one of the world’s most important shipping routes to renewed inspections of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Qatar, which has played a leading mediating role in the conflict, wants Iran to permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit bombed nuclear installations, including sites believed to contain highly enriched uranium.
Under the proposed arrangement, Tehran would not immediately be required to surrender or remove its remaining stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Instead, alternative measures could be considered, including down-blending the material to reduce its enrichment level.
The diplomatic initiative comes as US President Donald Trump continues to consider another military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities, although doubts have emerged about the credibility of further American threats.
Qatar seeks breakthrough in Iran nuclear inspections
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has discussed the proposal with Trump, although his office did not disclose the details of their telephone conversation on Friday.
Qatar’s state news agency confirmed the conversation and reported that the emir emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disagreements.
The agency quoted him as having “emphasised the importance of continuing dialogue and embracing diplomacy as a means of resolving disputes, preventing further escalation in the region”.
Qatar’s proposal reportedly draws on an earlier agreement negotiated in Cairo in September 2025, which was subsequently abandoned.
The new arrangement would require the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iran immediately and release part of the approximately $8 billion in Iranian assets frozen abroad.
In exchange, Tehran would permit IAEA inspectors to return to nuclear facilities damaged during the conflict and examine the condition of the installations and their remaining nuclear materials.
The proposed sequence is central to the negotiations because Iran wants several concessions before agreeing to international inspections and unrestricted maritime access.
Under the plan, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the second day of the agreement, using a shipping route negotiated with Oman.
The route would subsequently be submitted jointly to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), providing an internationally recognised framework for commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
Iran demands wider concessions before reopening the strait
Tehran’s position extends beyond the nuclear inspections and the lifting of the American naval blockade.
Iran has also demanded an end to the war in Lebanon, the withdrawal of US forces from its coastline, and commitments to remove some economic sanctions.
Another significant demand involves compensation for the destruction caused by the conflict, with Iranian officials insisting that war reparations should form part of any comprehensive settlement.
These conditions have complicated Qatar’s mediation efforts because Washington and Tehran disagree over which concessions should come first.
Iran wants assurances that the wider conflict and economic restrictions will be addressed before making commitments that could reduce its negotiating leverage.
The proposal also previously included a $300 billion reconstruction and development fund for Iran, although questions remain about where the money would come from and how such a substantial financial arrangement could be implemented.
Tehran’s negotiating position has also been strengthened by Trump’s Republican Party suffering a major setback in the US midterm elections.
The Iranian government believes the American administration may face greater domestic pressure against another military campaign, particularly if the conflict continues to affect international energy supplies and consumer prices.
Trump faces questions over another military operation
Although Trump has not abandoned the possibility of further attacks on Iranian nuclear installations, Vice-President JD Vance’s recent comments have affected how Tehran interprets Washington’s military threats.
Vance suggested that the war itself, rather than merely its financial consequences for American consumers, played a critical role in the Republican Party’s electoral difficulties.
His remarks have reportedly weakened the credibility of threats of another American assault in the eyes of Iranian officials.
For Tehran, the political consequences of the midterm elections could indicate that Washington has less domestic support for extending the military confrontation.
However, Trump’s continued consideration of military action means the possibility of escalation remains part of the calculations surrounding the negotiations.
Iran remains suspicious of returning UN inspectors
Despite Qatar’s diplomatic efforts, persuading Iran to accept renewed nuclear inspections could prove difficult.
Iran has become increasingly distrustful of the IAEA and its director-general, Rafael Grossi, following the bombing of its nuclear facilities.
Tehran accuses Grossi of failing to condemn the American attacks and believes the agency did not adequately defend the principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iranian officials have consequently questioned whether the IAEA can be trusted to conduct inspections independently of the interests of Washington and its allies.
Another concern is that information collected by inspectors could potentially reach the United States or Israel and be used to identify targets for future military operations.
These suspicions have made the return of international inspectors a sensitive issue, even though inspections are a central component of Qatar’s proposed agreement.
Iran’s willingness to accept inspections may therefore depend on guarantees concerning the handling of sensitive information and the independence of the inspection process.
The proposed Iran nuclear inspections arrangement would need to address these concerns if Qatar hopes to secure Tehran’s approval.
Oman discusses future administration of the Strait of Hormuz
Qatar is not the only Gulf country involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the maritime crisis.
Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, has also held discussions with Iranian officials about how the Strait of Hormuz could be administered after the conflict.
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The discussions have reportedly covered the shipping route, the duration of any reopening agreement and the possibility of registering the arrangement with the International Maritime Organisation.
One option involves Iran and Oman submitting a bilateral proposal to the IMO, while another would involve a broader regional arrangement.
Oman has also promoted a longer-term framework based on international maritime law, under which shipping companies would pay only for services provided rather than being charged compulsory transit tolls.
Such an arrangement could help restore confidence among international shipping companies and countries that depend heavily on the waterway for energy supplies.
The future administration of the strait is particularly important because the route carries a substantial proportion of the world’s internationally traded oil.
Iran selectively allows ships through the waterway
While negotiations continue, Iran has maintained significant influence over which vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Amir Hayat Moqaddam, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) on Tuesday that ships from China, India, Qatar and Iraq had been permitted to transit.
He explained that the exemptions were based on mutual interests between Iran and the countries concerned.
According to his account, Iranian authorities charged transit fees to vessels from India and China, while Qatari ships were allowed through without payment.
India had supplied Iran with medicine, while China had provided political support during the confrontation.
The selective arrangements demonstrate how Iran has used access to the strategic waterway as a diplomatic and economic instrument during the crisis.
However, the restrictions have created uncertainty for international shipping operators and countries that depend on uninterrupted energy deliveries.
Oil supplies remain vulnerable to the Hormuz crisis
The economic significance of the dispute is reflected in the volume of crude oil normally transported through the waterway.
According to Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, Gulf crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz averaged approximately 10.23 million barrels per day in October.
China accounted for 42 per cent of the shipments, while India represented another 13 per cent.
The figures underline the exposure of major Asian economies to any prolonged disruption of the shipping corridor.
A sustained reopening could therefore provide relief to energy importers, shipping companies and international oil markets, while continued restrictions would maintain pressure on global supply chains.
For Qatar, the proposed Strait of Hormuz reopening is consequently not simply a regional diplomatic objective but an important step towards reducing wider economic uncertainty.
IRGC reports tanker fire after alleged unauthorised crossing
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reported another incident involving oil tankers attempting to navigate the waterway.
The force claimed that two tankers described as “violating” vessels entered an unauthorised route in the eastern sector of the strait, collided with mines and caught fire.
According to the IRGC, the vessels had switched off their navigation and identification systems before attempting to cross with support from the US military.
The allegations have not been independently established, and the circumstances surrounding the reported incident remain unclear.
Nevertheless, the report illustrates the continuing security risks facing commercial shipping while negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz reopening remain unresolved.
The confrontation has made it increasingly difficult for shipping companies to assess the safety of routes through the waterway.
Diplomatic negotiations face a difficult path
Qatar’s initiative offers a possible framework for connecting Iran’s nuclear commitments with the restoration of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, its success will depend on whether Washington is prepared to ease its blockade and release frozen Iranian assets, while Tehran accepts inspections and addresses international concerns about its nuclear programme.
The disagreement over Lebanon, sanctions, reparations and the presence of American forces adds further complications to an already difficult negotiation.
Iran’s distrust of the IAEA also presents a major obstacle, particularly because the proposed inspections would involve facilities damaged during military attacks.
For now, Qatar and Oman are attempting to establish a diplomatic route out of the confrontation before another escalation makes an agreement even more difficult.
The outcome could have consequences extending far beyond the Gulf, affecting international energy markets, global shipping and the wider relationship between Iran and the United States.
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