Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz following weeks of technical negotiations aimed at establishing safe passage through the strategic waterway, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told Defa Press that discussions between the two countries had intensified over the past three months. The negotiations followed a June 18 memorandum of understanding aimed at establishing safe navigation routes.
“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,” Baghaei said.
He said the Iranian Foreign Ministry had coordinated the process, with the country’s defence, security and environmental authorities also contributing to the negotiations.
While agreement has been reached on the route map itself, Baghaei said some issues remain unresolved. Tehran and Muscat are continuing discussions, including over the wording of a joint statement, and exchanges will continue until the arrangement is finalised.
Baghaei emphasised that the accord is a bilateral arrangement between Iran and Oman, the two states bordering the Strait of Hormuz.
He said its purpose was to provide for the safe movement of vessels through the strait while safeguarding the sovereignty of both countries.