Iran on Monday said it has reached an understanding with Oman on a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides now working to finalise details and issue a joint statement.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said “an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route”, adding that the agreement was being prepared as a package including the route map.

Details that have previously emerged suggest ships could enter the strait along a route close to Iran and exit near Oman, without paying fees or tolls during an interim period.

Baghaei acknowledged that negotiations had moved slowly but said Tehran and Muscat still planned to finalise the arrangement, as a deadline for a broader agreement between the United States and Iran expired without a deal.