Tehran, August 3: Iran and Oman are currently engaged in discussions to establish a temporary shipping route in the Hormuz Strait, aimed at ensuring safe passage for vessels. This was confirmed by Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, during a weekly press conference on Monday.
Baghaei stated, “The talks focus on the idea that the southern route, which passes through Oman’s maritime area, and the northern route, which traverses Iran’s territorial waters, can converge into an intermediate corridor.”
According to Xinhua News Agency, the discussions are centered on a single corridor for both inbound and outbound traffic, rather than two or three separate routes. This interim route will be utilized until a permanent solution is established.
He emphasized that the closure of the waterway is not due to any disagreement between Iran and Oman, but rather a result of the “military aggression” from the United States and Israel against Iran. Baghaei noted that as long as Washington continues its “malicious” actions against Iran, there will be no change in the current situation of the Hormuz Strait.
As reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), during a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi mentioned that the ongoing negotiations between Iran and Oman have now reached their final stages.
In the press conference, Baghaei also stated that Iran will take all necessary measures to hold Ukraine accountable for a recent attack on an Iranian vessel.
On July 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that the Ukrainian military targeted a Russian warship in the Caspian Sea, along with vessels used for transporting military supplies linked to Iran.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that negotiations with Iran would commence on Monday afternoon. He revealed that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar have requested the U.S. to halt proposed military strikes, as they believe there is potential for an agreement.
Speaking to reporters while en route to Joint Base Andrews on Air Force One, Trump stated, “A deal is going to happen in the Hormuz Strait, and thereafter, there will also be an agreement on the nuclear issue, which you can view as Iran’s nuclear disarmament.”
Trump claimed that Iran has requested the U.S. to withdraw its proposed attacks, adding, “Now we are talking to them through negotiations.”
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