**Iran and Oman have advanced bilateral talks on temporary shipping corridors and safe navigation routes through the Strait of Hormuz, including joint mine-clearance and technical details on entry/exit lanes, without any full lifting of the prevailing US naval blockade or Iranian restrictions on commercial traffic.** Iranian officials, including the foreign ministry and IRGC spokespeople, have repeatedly stated that these understandings or frameworks do not constitute reopening the strait. Reopening remains explicitly conditioned on US fulfillment of commitments under the June Islamabad MoU, such as ending sanctions, releasing assets, and lifting the naval blockade on Iranian ports. As of mid-October 2026, transit volumes remain far below pre-conflict levels, with continued attacks on shipping and no verified end to the blockade. This sequencing—progress toward a Hormuz corridor agreement while the blockade persists—aligns with trader expectations that the blockade will not be lifted first. The situation reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts amid active naval tensions and unmet preconditions for normalization.