Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran and Muscat are close to agreeing on new shipping arrangements, but wider issues with the US must also be resolved.
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iran has said that reaching an agreement with Oman on a new maritime arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz would not automatically mean the strategically important waterway would be fully reopened.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman over shipping routes, legal arrangements and administrative procedures had entered their final stages, according to international media reports.
Iran, Oman discuss temporary shipping route
Araghchi said several technical and legal complications concerning the routes used by vessels passing through the strait remained unresolved.
As a result, Iran and Oman are considering establishing a temporary maritime route to facilitate the movement of commercial vessels.
The proposed route could potentially serve as the basis for a permanent or main shipping corridor in the future, according to the Iranian foreign minister.
Wider US issues remain unresolved
Araghchi stressed that an agreement with Oman alone would not be sufficient to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
He said broader issues involving the United States would also need to be resolved before a complete reopening could take place.
According to Araghchi, those conditions include addressing what Tehran considers violations of previous understandings by Washington.
His comments indicate that the shipping discussions with Oman are being treated separately from the wider political and security negotiations involving Iran and the US.
Iran maintains strategic position on Hormuz
The statement follows a recent position from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that the strait would only be reopened if Washington accepted Iran’s conditions.
Iran has repeatedly described the waterway as a strategically important asset rather than simply a commercial shipping route.
The IRGC has also warned that outside interference could complicate negotiations over the maritime passage.
What is being discussed between Iran and Oman?
The main objective of the Iran-Oman talks is reportedly to establish a workable and secure route for commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
One proposal under discussion involves separating shipping routes passing through Iranian- and Omani-controlled maritime areas.
Such an arrangement could help regulate vessel movements amid heightened tensions and reduce the risk of accidents or confrontation.
However, Tehran has made clear that even if a new maritime arrangement is reached, the full restoration of shipping through Hormuz would require additional security and political conditions to be met.
