Iran announced an agreement with Oman on shipping route coordinates through the Strait of Hormuz, pending non-interference from third parties. The deal is seen as a potential step towards a broader ceasefire with the U.S.
The agreement could ease tensions and potentially reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, impacting oil prices and international trade.
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei. He stated on Wednesday that a joint announcement is being finalized, provided certain third parties do not interfere.
Baqaei added that any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway. The proposed deal, according to a senior Iranian source and two regional officials, would give Tehran control over ships entering the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant concession.
The deal is seen as a potential stepping stone toward a broader ceasefire agreement with the United States that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz for marine traffic and lift a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. However, sources pushed back against assertions that a deal reopening the strait was imminent, stating that important details still need to be agreed upon.
Baqaei described the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat as professional and moving forward, with both sides reaching a mutual understanding on the geographical parameters of the route. He reiterated that if third parties do not obstruct the process, the joint statement between the two countries is in the final stages of review and drafting.