Iran and Oman Reach Understanding on Hormuz Transit Route Maps
Iran says it has reached an understanding with Oman on transit route maps for the Strait of Hormuz, with a joint statement still pending.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, told reporters in Tehran on Monday that an understanding has been reached with Oman regarding the map of the transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the two sides are now working to finalise the understanding as a package, combining the map with a joint statement.
Baghaei did not provide further details, but previously reported indications suggest the arrangement would involve ships entering the strait along a route close to Iran and exiting along a route closer to Oman. During an interim period, vessels would transit without paying fees or tolls.
The comments come as a 60-day deadline for reaching an agreement to end the war expired, with no visible progress toward a broader U.S.-Iran deal. Washington has sought an acceptable arrangement for reopening the strait before ending its blockade of Iranian ports, though it remains unclear whether this latest understanding meets those expectations.
Iran effectively closed the strait — through which roughly one-fifth of the world's traded oil supplies passed before the war — after Israel and the U.S. attacked the country on February 28. Baghaei conceded that talks with Oman have progressed slowly, but reiterated Tehran's intention to finalise the understanding in its full form.