DOHA/MUSCAT/RIYADH — Iran and Qatar signed a joint naval protocol on Wednesday to de-escalate the Strait of Hormuz, the first concrete diplomatic breakthrough since a memorandum of understanding was agreed Monday. Iran temporarily reopened the shipping lane and reversed its broadcast ban on Tankers & Trade before Qatar announced the protocol at a live briefing in Doha.
The agreement, brokered by Qatar and Oman with indirect US-Iran talks hosted in Doha, came after marathon sessions between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. A formal announcement was expected later Wednesday pending final sign-off from Tehran. An Iranian oil tanker carrying 840,000 barrels is currently transiting the strait under Qatari naval escort.
Under the protocol, Iranian naval vessels will provide advance notice of any patrol activity within 40 nautical miles of the channel’s midline. A joint monitoring mechanism using Omani radar installations will track commercial traffic in real time. Neither side will conduct strike drills within 60 nautical miles of the transit corridor for the duration of the 30-day agreement.
Washington has not yet formally responded. The USS Truman carrier group remains on station; six Houthi drones were shot down overnight in the first direct engagement of the group’s deployment. European diplomats cautiously welcomed the development while stressing that verification mechanisms remain the key test.
Arab foreign ministers are expected to meet in Riyadh on Thursday to formalise regional support for the agreement. Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq played the central mediating role, with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani providing diplomatic cover for the deal’s announcement.