Iran's FM says talks with Oman on Hormuz Strait in final stages
Tehran, Aug 2
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that negotiations between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages, the official news agency IRNA reported.
Araghchi said on Sunday during a cabinet meeting that the negotiations have progressed and are on the path of being finalised.
Elaborating on the Iran-Oman talks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV on Sunday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that reaching an agreement between the two countries is not related to the waterway's reopening or continued closure, reports Xinhua news agency.
Baghaei said Iran and Oman are working to designate a "new route" in the strait within a traffic separation scheme format that can ensure both sides' sovereign rights as well as Iran's national interests and security.
Earlier, Iran's Acting Defense Minister Seyed Majid Ebn Al-Reza said Sunday that Tehran perceives every "enemy" threat as "real and noteworthy," rejecting any characterization of them as mere psychological warfare.
"We will neither be surprised nor remain passive. We use threats as a basis to increase our preparedness, strengthen our deterrence, and develop our power," Al-Reza wrote on social media platform X after US President Donald Trump said earlier that he had agreed to hold off fresh attacks against Iran.
Tehran tightened its grip on the strait after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on February 28.
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
While we watch these negotiations from afar, it's clear that Iran is trying to secure its interests without escalating tensions. I just hope the US and Israel won't keep provoking them. Stability in the Gulf is in everyone's interest, especially for countries like India which rely heavily on this route.
Interesting chess game happening in West Asia. Iran is playing smart by negotiating with Oman rather than directly with the West. This new route proposal could be a compromise that addresses Iran's sovereignty while ensuring safe passage for oil tankers. However, the US strikes on Iranian targets have made this mess worse. India should reach out to both sides to ensure our energy security isn't jeopardized.
The timing is so concerning – just when we thought things might calm down, both sides are talking about threats and preparedness. This could affect global markets and shipping costs. Indian families are already feeling the pinch of rising prices. Hopefully the diplomats are able to find a peaceful solution before things go out of hand.
Honestly, I think this whole crisis is being engineered by the US to put pressure on Iran. Israel gets dragged in, and the strait becomes a bargaining chip. The "new route" proposal sounds like a face-saving mechanism. But I hope our leadership stays alert and doesn't get caught in the crossfire. We have too many citizens working in the Gulf to risk any military escalation.
Iran seems to be playing the long game here. They know the strait is their leverage, and they're using Oman as a buffer. This negotiation could either lead to de-escalation or just buying time for further confrontation. Either way, India needs to build alternate supply
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