Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that discussions between Iran and Oman regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz are close to being finalized. Araghchi updated the Cabinet on the progress made in these negotiations, emphasizing that they are in the final stages, as reported by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.
According to Anadolu Agency, the talks are bilateral and do not involve any other parties, as stated by Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei via the semi-official Fars news agency. Baqaei highlighted that the dialogue between Iran and Oman aims to establish a mechanism that safeguards mutual interests, a topic that has been under discussion for a considerable period.
Baqaei referred to Article 5 of a memorandum of understanding with the United States, which outlined that the future management of the Strait would be conducted by Iran, in collaboration with Oman and through dialogue with regional countries. He noted that during the initial implementation phase of the memorandum, the northern route of the waterway was deemed safe, with vessels utilizing it for a significant duration before the US launched a military attack against Iran.
The spokesman criticized the southern route for contributing to regional insecurity and harming Iran's national interests, asserting that Tehran would not accept it. He indicated that the forthcoming agreement would establish a new route, distinct from the current northern and southern routes, on which Iran and Oman would reach a mutual understanding.
Baqaei clarified that this understanding does not imply that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened or closed, emphasizing that Iran's decisions are driven by national interests and will not be influenced by external threats or intimidation.
While there was no immediate response from Oman regarding Iran's statements, Baqaei cautioned regional countries against facilitating any potential US attack on Iran. He warned that any nation providing military or logistical facilities to the aggressor would be considered complicit in the aggression.
He also noted that the UK, Bulgaria, and Ukraine have communicated with Tehran, assuring that they would not participate in any potential US attacks against Iran. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump stated that he canceled a planned military strike against Iran after receiving requests from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries to finalize a peace framework. Trump claimed that the agreement would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending Iran's nuclear threat.