Oman has submitted a proposal to Western countries that shipping companies pay voluntary service fees to transit the Strait of Hormuz days after reportedly warning European countries that the prewar status quo could not reemerge, while Iranian officials have called the fees mandatory, The New York Times reported June 30. Although U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams are headed to Doha, Qatar, Iranian and Qatari officials denied the existence of direct U.S.-Iran negotiations on June 30. The Iranian negotiators are expected to focus on the release of $6 billion in frozen funds.

Media reports citing U.S. officials previously suggested that U.S. and Iranian officials would meet in Doha on June 30 to discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after days of U.S.-Iran clashes. Maritime tracking data from June 29 indicates a slight uptick in the number of vessels transiting the strait after the United States and Iran agreed to halt the latest round of strikes late June 28.