Iran and Oman close to agreement on the Strait of Hormuz
Negotiations on sea traffic through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman are in their final stages, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced.
A solution is reportedly close.
The two countries have, in addition to other negotiations linked to the Iran conflict, discussed how sea traffic through the Strait of Hormuz should be handled in the future.
- We want to reach an agreement on a route that is acceptable to both sides, said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in an interview with Iranian state television on Sunday.
Currently, there is a northern corridor along the Iranian coast and a southern one off Oman.
The goal of the negotiations is a sea route that “respects the sovereign rights of both sides and protects our national interests and security,” according to Esmaeil Baqaei.
Exactly what an Iranian-Omani agreement would entail is unclear. Iran has claimed control of the Strait of Hormuz during the war with the United States in recent months and has repeatedly fired on ships it deemed to have failed to comply with calls.
Esmaeil Baqaei says, however, that a deal with Oman has nothing to do with whether the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed.
“The strait was closed due to the US’s violation of its commitments, its naval blockade of Iran and all the hostile measures that the US has taken against the Islamic Republic of Iran during this period,” he says, referring to the failed ceasefire with the US.
Oman has not commented on Sunday’s Iranian statement.
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