Iran says agreed with Oman on proposed commercial shipping route in Hormuz
Tehran, Aug 6
Iran and Oman have made progress in talks on establishing a safe commercial shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said.
He also mentioned that Tehran has no plans for senior officials to visit Pakistan or Qatar this weekend.
Baghaei told reporters on Wednesday (local time) that Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographical coordinates of the proposed route, and are finalising a joint statement outlining key agreed-upon points, provided that "certain third parties" do not hinder the process, according to a ministry press release.
Both countries have been holding consultations over the past two months on the proposed route, with Iranian authorities reviewing the technical, legal, security, and environmental dimensions, he said.
Baghaei said the strait was closed due to US and Israeli "military aggression" against Iran and the resulting security consequences for the region.
The bilateral understanding between Iran and Oman, by itself, does not mean that the strait has become safe for transiting vessels, as the US maritime blockade and other "aggressive and threatening" actions against Iran and its interests continue, he said.
Meanwhile, Baghaei told reporters that there are currently no plans for visits by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi or Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to Pakistan or Qatar this weekend, adding that Pakistan and Qatar continue efforts to ease regional tensions and that Iran remains in contact and exchanges views with them, reports Xinhua news agency.
Separately, Araghchi briefed his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, on the latest diplomatic developments between Iran and Oman during a phone call on Wednesday, according to Iran's official news agency, IRNA.
Both ministers stressed the importance of continuing political and diplomatic consultations and regional cooperation to help reduce tensions, IRNA reported.
Iran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States, following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The US military launched multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets last month, saying they were in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait and aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping."
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and facilities in the region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Meanwhile our government is busy playing diplomatic games with everyone. The Strait of Hormuz is critical for us - 80% of our crude comes through there. Instead of taking sides, India should be pushing for dialogue. This Iran-Oman initiative could be a step forward, but will the US allow it? 🤔
Honestly, Iran saying the strait was "closed" is a bit of an exaggeration. Ships are still moving, just with extra caution. But this agreement with Oman shows they're feeling the pressure from sanctions and the US strikes. Let's see if it actually translates into safe passage for Indian vessels.
What about the environmental impact? They mentioned assessing environmental dimensions, but the bigger issue is that any military activity in the strait could cause an ecological disaster that affects the entire region, including our western coast. Hope they think beyond just shipping lanes. 🌊
Seems like Iran is trying to save face after being bombed by the US. This "safe corridor" talk is just a PR exercise. The real issue is that neither side wants to back down, and smaller countries like Oman are left to clean up the mess. India should stay neutral but prepared for any scenario.
I just hope our sailors and tanker crews are safe. The Chabahar port deal with Iran was supposed to boost our connectivity, but if things escalate, we'll be stuck between US pressure and Iranian interests. Diplomatic tightrope walking isn't easy, but it's necessary.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.