Iran is reportedly exploring the possibility of allowing European nations to participate in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a potential arrangement that could help restore shipping through the strategic waterway and ease tensions between Washington and Tehran, according to individuals familiar with the matter. While Tehran has previously publicly opposed foreign involvement in mine clearance operations, diplomatic sources indicate that its stance has softened in recent private discussions over the past few weeks.
If implemented, this plan could provide shipping companies and insurers with third-party security guarantees that the Strait of Hormuz is safe for transit after more than five months of military conflict. It might also create conditions for broader ceasefire negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in US-Iran talks, with disputes over control of this energy transport route persisting for months and acting as a key obstacle to de-escalation. Qatar and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both indicated on Tuesday that an agreement involving the Strait of Hormuz is nearing completion.
Any European minesweeping operation would require multiple conditions, including Iran providing security guarantees to participating vessels and ensuring the ceasefire remains sustainable. However, sources caution that there is no guarantee this plan will be executed. It also needs approval from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has led attacks on vessels passing through the Strait. Internal divisions remain within Iran, with some Revolutionary Guard members insisting that mine clearance should be handled domestically rather than by foreign countries.
The post-war management of the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical sticking point in negotiations. Iran demands control over the waterway and has proposed charging transit fees, which the US firmly opposes. President Trump stated on Monday that Iran is in the "final moments" of reaching a deal, warning that the US could resume airstrikes if no progress is made. The prospects of an agreement largely depend on negotiations between Iran and Oman, as Oman controls the southern shore of the Strait and acts as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar said on Tuesday that a draft agreement to restart negotiations between Washington and Tehran has been developed and is being circulated among relevant parties. This could represent a short-term de-escalation plan. Bessent added that an agreement related to the Strait of Hormuz could be reached as early as Tuesday. Some sources indicate that a key focus of Iran-Oman talks is establishing a new central shipping lane through the Strait, though this lane is believed to be mined, and its usability will depend on subsequent clearance efforts.
The US is pressuring allies to confirm that the Strait is safe for navigation, aiming to restart energy flows. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been pushing the UK and France to organize an international conference on Strait of Hormuz shipping, though this is unlikely to occur until a new ceasefire is agreed upon and proven sustainable. European nations remain cautious, fearing that participation could be seen as supporting US offensive operations. US support for minesweeping also represents a policy shift, as Trump previously dismissed European involvement in such matters.
Europe May Bear Costs for Reopening Strait of Hormuz
According to sources familiar with the matter, Iran is considering charging European countries for maintaining the Strait of Hormuz as part of a proposal to reopen the waterway. The plan, still not finalized, involves creating a "voluntary fund" financed by Gulf states and some European members of the International Maritime Organization. Gulf and European sources say the funds would support navigation management, environmental protection, search and rescue operations, and other related services in the Strait.
The proposal, modeled on the Malacca Strait framework, would see the Strait managed by Iran and Oman, with vessels contributing voluntarily for navigation services. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical energy transport route, and major economies and shipping companies may be willing to fund such a mechanism to ensure stable shipping and reduce further disruptions to global supply chains. Oman believes that countries dependent on Gulf energy supplies and shipowners would voluntarily contribute to the fund.
Italy, Belgium, and France are among the most dependent European nations on Gulf oil and liquefied natural gas imports. The UK government stated that only about 1% of its refined crude oil in 2025 came from the Middle East, with primary supplies coming from Norway, the US, and the North Sea. As the waterway is increasingly seen as a reliable energy transport route and Iran demands transit fees, some major European countries have accepted that vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz may need to pay fees to Iran and Oman in some form.
A United Nations source indicated that the proposal has not yet been formally submitted by any of the IMO's 176 member states, which include Iran, Oman, and the US. While international law does not provide a basis for any country to impose mandatory fees on an international maritime chokepoint, the "voluntary fund" alternative is "worth exploring," according to the source. This model could reference the "Aids to Navigation Fund," which supports Malacca Strait maintenance through a cost-sharing mechanism. The Malacca Strait is technically maintained by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, but these countries argue that lighthouses, buoys, and other navigation aids should be jointly funded by users. The mechanism has been running for nearly a decade, with financial support from Japan, Australia, the US, and private shipping companies.
If the Strait of Hormuz adopts a similar model, Iran and Oman may push for voluntary contributions from countries to fund the reopening of the energy corridor. However, Oman previously rejected a joint Iran-Oman proposal for fees, considering it a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which forms the basis for international maritime law. Oman has ratified the convention, while Iran has not.