Iran says deal reached with Oman on Strait of Hormuz route

Tehran (Web Desk): Iran has said that its planned joint declaration with Oman on establishing a navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz is approaching completion, provided the initiative is not hindered by outside involvement.

Speaking on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran and Oman, the two countries bordering the Strait of Hormuz, have spent the last two months negotiating a framework aimed at creating a secure passage for commercial shipping.

According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, the discussions have focused on ensuring safer maritime transit through the strategically important waterway.

Baqaei stated that Iranian authorities had carefully assessed the proposal from technical, legal, security and environmental perspectives before moving forward.

He described the talks with Muscat as constructive and professional, adding that both sides have already reached consensus on the geographical coordinates of the proposed shipping route.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said that if the process is allowed to continue without interference from external parties, the joint statement outlining the agreed principles and key provisions is now in its final phase of drafting and review.

Despite the progress, Baqaei cautioned that the bilateral agreement alone would not be sufficient to guarantee secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that the overall security of the waterway remains closely linked to what he described as continued US actions directed against Iran.

The spokesperson further alleged that the disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was triggered by what he called US and Israeli military aggression against Iran.

He also claimed that the continued US naval presence and other hostile measures targeting Iran and its interests remain among the factors preventing the restoration of full security in the strategically vital maritime passage.