Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on a new safe shipping route for vessels passing through the Hormuz Strait. Once finalized, Iran is expected to gain authority over ships entering the Gulf region.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, announced on August 5 that the two countries have agreed on specific coordinates for the new route after two months of negotiations.
The discussions considered the safety of the route, legal issues, security conditions, and environmental impacts. A joint statement detailing the agreement is in the final stages.
The proposed plan involves vessels entering the Gulf using a northern route managed by Iran, while outgoing ships would utilize a southern route overseen by Oman.
According to Reuters, the negotiations include provisions for Iran to manage vessels entering the Gulf, but the extent of Iran's involvement with outgoing ships is still being negotiated.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated, "Once the new route is operational, the existing temporary route will be closed," adding that a significant portion of the shipping routes through the strait will pass through Iranian territorial waters.
The final agreement has yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press reported that the negotiating teams from both countries have prepared a draft agreement, pending approval from Iran's Supreme Leader. The Iranian government has indicated that the joint statement is still in the finalization phase.
Discussions regarding tolls and vessel inspection methods remain key issues. Reuters noted that while Iran and Oman sought to impose transit fees during negotiations, the U.S. and Gulf nations opposed this. Subsequently, the Wall Street Journal reported that the latest draft includes provisions preventing Iran from imposing tolls or service fees. The specifics of costs and inspection methods will only be confirmed once the final agreement is made public.
The new route is likely to be used temporarily until a long-term operational plan is established. The Wall Street Journal indicated that the draft includes provisions for operating the route for 60 days, with the possibility of extending the period if necessary. Iran has previously stated that it is discussing operating the temporary route for 2 to 4 months.
Iran clarified that the agreement with Oman does not imply a full opening of the Hormuz Strait. Gharibabadi emphasized that discussions about a complete opening of the strait can only occur if the U.S. halts its maritime blockade and military actions against Iranian ports.
Baghaei also noted that under the current circumstances of U.S. maritime blockades and military threats, a complete guarantee of vessel safety cannot be achieved solely through agreements between the two countries.
The U.S. and Iran have differing claims regarding ongoing negotiations between the two nations. President Donald Trump stated, "We are having very good discussions with Iran," claiming that an agreement to open the Hormuz Strait is imminent. He expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution over military action but warned that if negotiations fail, military action against Iran could resume.
In contrast, Iran has rebutted claims of direct negotiations with the U.S., stating that the ongoing discussions are solely between Iran and Oman. However, it acknowledged that the U.S. has sent messages indicating readiness to comply with existing agreements. Iran has not yet decided whether to engage in follow-up negotiations with the U.S.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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