Technical talks continue in Doha as Oman floats transit service fees

Qatar confirmed technical talks between Iran and the United States were continuing with no high-level meetings scheduled, and Vice President Vance said talks were going well. CENTCOM said its commander spoke with regional military counterparts about the security environment including the strait. Oman delivered a proposal to the United States and allies for shipping companies to pay service fees to use the waterway.

Why this matters. The Omani fee proposal is the compromise that keeps resurfacing: Washington objects to a charge controlled by Iran, not to a charge in principle, which leaves the door open to a tolled strait under someone else's flag.