Iran said Saturday that negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz were nearing an agreement, but warned that a deal with Oman alone would not be enough to restore traffic through the waterway.

The comments came as diplomatic efforts continued to ease tensions surrounding the strait, a major route for global oil and gas shipments that has faced severe disruption during the conflict.

Iranian officials said an agreement with Oman was close, but Tehran would not independently reopen the waterway simply because an arrangement had been reached with Muscat. The position signaled that additional issues would have to be resolved before commercial shipping could resume normally, according to Reuters, 

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world's most significant energy corridors. 

The dispute has also become a central issue in negotiations involving the United States. Washington has pushed for unrestricted navigation through the strait, while Iran has maintained that conditions surrounding the waterway must be addressed as part of any broader settlement.

The uncertainty surrounding the reopening has continued to concern shipping companies and energy markets, particularly because of the volume of oil and other petroleum products that normally pass through the waterway.