Iran has concluded an accord with Oman concerning a designated shipping path through the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei provided no additional specifics on the accord, describing it as nearing completion.

Baqaei cautioned that any such accord would not ensure secure transit, as safety continues to suffer from the US blockade of Iranian ports. The US and Oman have offered no remarks on the idea.

After the US and Israel struck Iran in February, Tehran has restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, a route normally carrying one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump cautioned that Iran would face severe consequences if the strait failed to reopen promptly.

His remarks followed statements from senior US officials that discussions had advanced enough for possible shipments to restart later this week, although Iran insists it is not in talks with the US and has no intention of starting them.

Reopening the strait remains central to ongoing exchanges between the nations and mediators.

In his remarks, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman noted that the geographical coordinates of the route had been settled with Oman.

The elements rendering the Strait of Hormuz unsafe persist due to the United States, especially the naval blockade and further hostile moves against Iran and its interests, he stated, per Iran's official Irna news agency.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi later informed Irna that the new route would be short-term and might remain available for two to four months. He offered no extra information.

Oil prices eased on Thursday, with global benchmark Brent crude falling 0.3 percent to $79.24 in morning Asian trading.

Energy prices have swung sharply amid the conflict as shipments along the route for roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas faced major interruptions.

Since the war began, traffic through the strait has fallen sharply. Iran requires all passage to receive prior clearance and has targeted vessels that disregarded the instruction.

A major sticking point between Tehran and Washington involves Iran's plan to charge vessels crossing the strait.

Iran seeks charges of 5 to 7 percent of cargo value from ships using the strait, according to a senior Iranian official cited by Reuters. Oman proposes around 3 percent, while Washington seeks zero charges.

The proposed accord would also grant Tehran authority over vessels entering the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

The BBC has reached out to the White House for comment.

In June, Iran and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at halting fighting, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and agreeing to end the war within 60 days.

The accord soon collapsed, as did diplomatic efforts, with exchanges of attacks resuming days after the MoU was signed.

The US has kept a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the region, while another blockade affects Saudi Arabia's ports in the Red Sea, imposed by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis since 20 July.

The US and Israel carried out broad strikes on Iran on 28 February, prompting Iran to respond by targeting Israel and US-allied Gulf states and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died in that opening attack and was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.

The younger Khamenei suffered wounds in the same strikes that began the war and has not appeared publicly since.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Wednesday that contact with Khamenei remains difficult at present.

His presence nonetheless provides great strength for continuing efforts, Pezeshkian said, according to state media.

The younger Khamenei, absent from his father's funeral rites last month, has issued written statements, yet his limited visibility has sparked speculation about ties with other senior figures.

Pezeshkian maintained he has held productive meetings with him and received kindness along with sound reasoning.

Regrettably, the present circumstances allow some to portray him in a misleading light, he added.