Iran and Oman have agreed on the route of a maritime corridor for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are finalising a joint plan to manage navigation, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the route’s coordinates had been agreed but gave no technical details. He added that the agreement would take effect only if the United States ended its naval blockade of Iranian ports and military operations, which Tehran regards as a major source of instability in the region. He also said a joint Iran-Oman statement would be issued provided that “certain parties” did not obstruct the process, in an apparent reference to Washington.
The US-Iran agreement on a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, signed in June, collapsed within days, with both sides resuming attacks.
Key differences remain, however. According to Reuters, Iran is seeking transit fees equivalent to 5%–7% of a cargo’s value, Oman is discussing a rate of around 3%, while the United States opposes any such charges. Tehran has also warned that the new route does not automatically guarantee safe passage for vessels as long as military operations and blockades continue.
Two officials told the Associated Press that the plan is being viewed as a temporary arrangement that could pave the way for renewed US-Iran nuclear talks. A previous agreement on a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, signed in June, effectively collapsed within days.
Sources: Guardian, BBC
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