Iran said it has agreed with neighboring Oman on geographic coordinates for a safe passage route for commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran clarified that while the Donald Trump administration had also weighed in during negotiations with Oman, it held no talks whatsoever with the United States.
According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on the 5th (local time), "Iran and Oman, the two coastal states bordering the Strait of Hormuz, have conducted negotiations over the past two months aimed at establishing a safe passage route for commercial vessels," adding, "An agreement has been reached on the geographic coordinates of the proposed route." Baghaei went on to explain, "Iranian authorities have thoroughly reviewed various aspects including technical, legal, security, and environmental matters," and, "A joint statement between the two countries containing the key considerations and points of agreement is currently in its final stages."
Baghaei nonetheless pointed to U.S. maritime blockade measures as the factor destabilizing security in the Strait of Hormuz. He argued, "Factors destabilizing the strait still exist, including the U.S. maritime blockade and aggressive, threatening actions against Iran's interests," and, "The agreement between Iran and Oman alone cannot fully guarantee the safety of transiting vessels."
Baghaei also said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the former head of the negotiating team, have no plans to visit Pakistan or Qatar this weekend. Pakistan and Qatar serve as mediators between Iran and the United States.
Regarding the Hormuz route agreement with Oman, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, "If the new agreement is implemented, existing temporary routes within the Strait of Hormuz will be closed," explaining that "a significant portion of the shipping routes entering and exiting the strait will pass through Iranian territorial waters." He also said, "The agreement with Oman does not mean the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz," adding, "Opening the Strait of Hormuz requires specific conditions to be met." He further emphasized, "The agreement must be reached solely between Iran and Oman," and, "We will not tolerate any foreign interference."
Gharibabadi particularly highlighted the fact that Iran has no intention of negotiating with the United States for now. He said, "It is true that four or five days after the new conflict began, the U.S. side sent a message requesting negotiations and problem resolution," dismissing the notion by adding, "Iran has recently held no negotiations whatsoever with the United States."
In relation to this, the AP reported that the Iranian and Omani negotiating teams have reached a draft agreement for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to the AP, the draft agreement awaits only the final approval of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The draft is said to stipulate Iran's control over vessels entering the Gulf waters through the strait. The key issue is whether Iran will have control over vessels exiting in the opposite direction along the strait.
