Tehran, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : Iranian officials announced that Iran and Oman have finalized an agreement outlining new entry and exit routes for the Hormuz Strait. This decision will be shared with Gulf nations during a regional meeting scheduled for Monday in Muscat.
According to a source linked to Iran’s negotiating team, the agreement follows extensive technical and diplomatic discussions between the two nations. The final consensus was reached at the end of August.
As per the new deal, the route entering the Gulf will be entirely within Iran’s territorial waters, while a portion of the exit route will also fall within Iranian maritime boundaries. The source indicated that the route will operate under arrangements established by Iran. Once the new system is implemented, the southern passage will be closed, despite U.S. insistence that it remain open.
The source clarified that this agreement does not imply that the Hormuz Strait will be fully reopened. Iran has set forth seven conditions for any potential reopening of the waterway, which have been communicated to the U.S. The source emphasized that the decision to reopen will depend entirely on American actions.
Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, confirmed that a meeting of foreign ministers from Gulf countries will take place in Oman on Monday. This gathering will address regional issues, including the discussions between Iran and Oman regarding secure maritime routes in the Hormuz Strait.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Baghaei expressed hope that foreign ministers from both Iran and Iraq would also attend. He stated, “We will inform delegations about the outcomes of the discussions between Iran and Oman regarding the safe passage of vessels through the Hormuz Strait.”
Both nations initiated these discussions due to their geographical proximity as coastal states of the strait. Last month, Iran and Oman released a joint statement indicating that they were considering a phased plan, which includes establishing a temporary joint shipping corridor within the strait.
Following attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, Tehran imposed restrictions on the movement of vessels transiting through this strategic waterway. Concurrently, U.S. forces enforced a naval blockade targeting ships heading to or from Iranian ports.
The Hormuz Strait, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is regarded as one of the world’s most critical maritime routes for oil and gas transportation. Both Oman and Iran have long maintained dialogue and cooperation regarding maritime security and the movement of vessels in the area.
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