Iran, Oman Reach Agreement on Shipping Routes Through Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz following weeks of technical negotiations, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday.
Baghaei told Defa Press that the two countries, which share coastlines along the strategically important waterway, had been engaged in intensive discussions for about three months following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 18 aimed at establishing safe navigation routes.
He said the negotiations had made significant progress over the past three weeks despite what he described as US obstruction, culminating in an agreement on the proposed shipping route map.
According to Baghaei, the agreement was developed through coordination led by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, with the involvement of defence, security and environmental authorities.
He added that Tehran and Muscat were still working to resolve some outstanding issues, including the wording of a joint statement, with further consultations expected before the process is formally concluded.
Baghaei stressed that the agreement was an independent arrangement between Iran and Oman, whose objective is to facilitate the safe movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereignty of both countries.
However, he said the full restoration of security and normal commercial shipping through the waterway would depend on what Iran described as an end to US military threats and naval restrictions, as well as compensation for alleged breaches of commitments made by Washington over the past two months.
The negotiations form part of a broader technical process initiated under the Iran-US memorandum of understanding, which tasked Tehran and Muscat with working on a new framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Although discussions over the shipping routes have continued, Tehran has maintained that the complete reopening of the strategic waterway to normal commercial traffic remains dependent on the United States fulfilling its obligations under the memorandum.
