Abbas Araghchi: Iran and Oman close to agreement on new shipping route in Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman are close to an agreement on a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, but its opening also depends on other conditions.

As 1news.az reports citing the Iranian agency Tasnim, this was stated by the head of the department Abbas Araghchi at a press conference on Saturday.

"Negotiations with Oman on the legal mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz and determining the vessel traffic route are ongoing. We are very close to an agreement, however the opening of the strait also depends on other conditions, including eliminating the consequences of U.S. violations of the Islamabad Memorandum," he said.

According to Araghchi, the previously operating traffic separation scheme (TSS) no longer suits Iran. A new scheme needs to be developed, which involves significant technical and legal complexities.

"Given these complexities, a temporary route is now being discussed. It will operate until a new permanent scheme is agreed upon and will become its basis. Military and naval representatives of Iran and Oman have held talks based on existing maps. After summarizing the results of these negotiations, the new route will be determined," the minister noted.

Araghchi also accused the U.S. of violating the Islamabad Memorandum, stating that each such case must be considered separately.

"Iran fulfilled the fifth point of the memorandum, according to which shipping was to return to normal levels within a month. Within two weeks its intensity reached 60% of the normal level. However, the Americans, despite Iran's warnings, began to seek the creation of new routes in the Strait of Hormuz, trying to cast doubt on Iran's role in managing the strait. Violation of the memorandum and challenging this role is categorically unacceptable for Tehran," Araghchi said.