Iran, Oman Nearing Deal on Hormuz Strait Navigation

A senior Iranian official announced that understandings between Tehran and Muscat regarding new arrangements for commercial vessel movement in the Strait of Hormuz are nearing completion. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, clarified the anticipated agreement is not a full reopening, but an innovative navigation model, distinct from procedures followed over the past six decades, allowing a significant portion of vessels to pass through Iranian territorial waters. The Iranian official affirmed any understanding concerning the Strait of Hormuz must be exclusively between Iran and the Sultanate of Oman. He added that implementing these new arrangements would lead to the closure of other temporary routes currently utilized in the maritime zone. Gharibabadi highlighted that a large part of vessels' entry and exit routes would rely on Iranian territorial waters, asserting recent tensions and conflicts in the strait stemmed from American interventions. In a related context, the Iranian official emphasized his country has not conducted any negotiations with Washington on this matter recently, clarifying the understanding process is confined solely to Tehran and Muscat. He also mentioned Tehran received messages from the United States indicating readiness to return to previous commitments, but stressed this is unrelated to ongoing discussions with Oman regarding navigation regulation. The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most vital global maritime passages, through which a significant portion of energy shipments and international trade transits.