Iran Agrees on Hormuz Route With Oman as Reopening Hangs in Balance

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Iran Agrees on Hormuz Route With Oman as Reopening Hangs in Balance
  • 06 Aug, 10:28
  • Iran

Iran said on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Oman on the coordinates of a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and was finalizing a joint statement, while cautioning that the deal alone would not be enough to reopen the strategic waterway.

“The geographical coordinates of the route envisaged by the two sides have been agreed upon,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to state news agency IRNA.

Baqaei said the joint statement was in the final stages of review and drafting, provided “certain third parties” did not obstruct the process.

Tehran and Muscat have spent two months discussing a safe commercial route through the strait, with the technical, legal, security and environmental aspects of the proposal under review, he said.

Baqaei added that an agreement with Oman would not by itself guarantee safe navigation, pointing to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and other American military actions.

Iran has denied holding direct negotiations with Washington over the strait, saying its talks are solely with Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, has faced severe disruptions since U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began on Feb. 28.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker reported hearing two explosions about nine nautical miles southeast of Kumzar, Oman, while transiting the strait. The ship and its crew were safe, and no environmental damage was reported.

Yemen’s Houthis also said they had struck the Saudi oil tankers Wafa and Daisy in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment.

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Iran Agrees on Hormuz Route With Oman as Reopening Hangs in Balance

Iran said on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Oman on the coordinates of a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and was finalizing a joint statement, while cautioning that the deal alone would not be enough to reopen the strategic waterway.