Iran-Oman agreement reached on Strait of Hormuz shipping route

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of technical negotiations.

According to him, Iran and Oman began intensive negotiations three months ago following the signing of the June 18 memorandum of understanding to establish safe navigation routes.

“Despite U.S. obstruction, the talks have made positive progress over the past three weeks, and an agreement has been reached on the shipping route map,” Baghaei said.

He said the plan was the result of coordination led by the Foreign Ministry with the participation of Iran’s defense, security and environmental authorities.

The diplomat added that the two sides were still negotiating outstanding issues, including a statement to be issued by Tehran and Muscat, noting that exchanges between the two countries would continue until the process was finalized.

Baghaei stressed that the Iran-Oman arrangement was an independent agreement between the two coastal states aimed at ensuring the safe passage of ships through the strait, while preserving the sovereignty of both countries.

The spokesman noted that the full restoration of security in the strait and the resumption of normal commercial shipping depended on an end to what he described as illegal U.S. actions, military threats and the naval blockade, as well as compensation for U.S. breaches of commitments in the last two months.

The talks are part of technical negotiations launched under the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding, which tasked Tehran and Muscat with developing a new navigation framework for the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran and Oman have continued discussions on shipping routes, Tehran has repeatedly said any decision to reopen the strategic waterway remains contingent on the U.S. fulfilling its obligations under the memorandum.