Oman has presented Iran with a regionally backed proposal to establish a joint mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz (the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, through which one-fifth of global energy supplies flow), modelled on the Strait of Malacca system in which shipping nations make voluntary contributions to fund navigation safety and environmental protection. Iran has rejected the proposal's equal division of transit lanes, with Tehran's deputy foreign minister stating that the current arrangement does not address the country's security concerns, though sources indicate Iran is showing some flexibility in ongoing talks with Muscat. The negotiations carry significant urgency as the strait remains closed following the US-Israeli war on Iran that began in late February, disrupting global trade, while Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers held an emergency video call Tuesday to coordinate on restoring freedom of navigation.