Iran and Oman are reportedly nearing the end of their discussions on establishing safe routes in the contentious Strait of Hormuz.
The talks between Iran and Oman are almost over, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday. The main focus of these negotiations has been to identify safe routes in the Strait of Hormuz, reported APA’s Tehran bureau.
Baghaei stated that the negotiation process has been affected by the interference of third parties, which have typically hindered the talks. However, he confirmed that the talks are now in their final stage.
The spokesperson expressed optimism about reaching an agreement in the coming days, which would establish a temporary “safe route” in the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement is expected to be registered with the International Maritime Organization, as per the report.
Baghaei concluded his statement by urging “ill-intentioned parties” to avoid meddling in the process, allowing it to proceed logically and appropriately.
Iran Plans New Restrictions in Gulf
The Strait of Hormuz has been a point of contention between the U.S. and Iran. On Sunday, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, stated that Tehran plans to announce a new restricted zone in the Gulf and establish a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships entering the zone could face sanctions, while Iran says the strait will remain open only if the U.S. ends attacks and threats against Tehran, Reuters reported.
Notably, according to a report by the New York Post last week, Oman has quietly rejected Iran’s proposal to jointly charge service fees on commercial ships using the Strait of Hormuz, despite an IRGC claim that a deal had been reached. Muscat reportedly declined to avoid escalating tensions with the U.S., particularly after President Donald Trump threatened military action if Oman supported Iranian tolls.
Hormuz Traffic Drops Despite Trump’s Claim
Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that the Strait could lose its strategic importance within two years as new land-based pipelines reduce reliance on this crucial oil shipping route. He stated that Iran was trying to use the strait as an energy choke point.
However, contrary to Bessent’s prediction and Trump’s claim that the U.S. has “total control” over the Strait, shipping data last week showed that commercial traffic through the waterway remained severely constrained. The data revealed a 50% drop in maritime traffic through the waterway, with only five confirmed crossings.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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