Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that Iran has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route map for Strait of Hormuz after weeks of negotiations. Baghaei told the press that Iran and Oman, the two coastal states on the Strait of Hormuz, began intensive negotiations three months ago following the signing of the June 18 Memorandum of Understanding to establish safe navigation routes.
Baghaei said the plan was a result of coordination led by the Foreign Ministry with the participation of Iran’s defense, security, and environmental authorities. He added that the two sides were still negotiating outstanding issues, which include a statement to be issued by Tehran and Muscat, noting that the exchange between the two countries would continue until the process was finalized.
“Despite US obstruction, the talks have made positive progress over the past three weeks, and an agreement has been reached on the shipping route map,” he said,
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The Iranian leader further clarified that the agreement between Iran and Oman was an independent agreement between the two coastal states aimed at ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait while preserving the sovereignty of both the countries. Further adding that the full restoration of security in the Strait and the resumption of the movement of normal shipping depended on an end to the illegal U.S. actions, military threats, and the naval blockade as well as compensation for U.S. breaches of commitment in the last two months.
The talks were a part of the negotiations launched under the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding in which Tehran and Muscat were tasked to develop a new navigation framework for the Strait of Hormuz.
