Iran and Oman have come to a provisional agreement on a new shipping route via the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran stated that a joint statement is expected amid the settlement of all the final details. However, Iran warned that no agreement would instantly guarantee safety in the strait.
The development comes following US president Donald Trump’s insistence that progress is being made on reopening the strait, though Iranian officials counter that key points of contention persist.
The proposed agreement will enable Iran to oversee the ship's entrance in the gulf through the waterway, Reuters reported.
Commenting on the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that “the two sides had reached a mutual understanding on the geographical parameters of the route under discussion”.
He also mentioned that a joint statement is likely to be issued if no third party obstructs the process.
Furthermore, in an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that “I am not looking to kill people and totally obliterate everything, and that’s where we were headed. And they wanted to negotiate, and we’re doing that, and it seems to be working out quite well,”. He also asserted that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was near.
The development occurred after The New York Times reported closing of a framework by Iran and Oman creating separate shipping lanes directing inbound Gulf traffic through an Iranian-controlled channel and outbound vessels closer to Oman.
NYT also quoted Iranian officials stating that the proposal does not include a toll but a service fee for environmental protection, security and staffing, with revenue shared equally between Iran and Oman.
However, a US official denied the claims stating that any temporary navigation plan would not require Iranian approval, impose fees, or compromise freedom of navigation.
