TEHRAN: Oman says discussions with Iran over an arrangement to secure a shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz have been constructive, while Tehran has made clear that any agreement would not lead to the immediate reopening of the strategically important waterway.
Officials from both countries indicated on Saturday that negotiations were moving forward, although neither side gave a timeline for reaching a final agreement. Oman’s foreign ministry also warned against attacks on commercial vessels that could further disrupt maritime traffic.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks were in their final phase, but stressed that reopening the strait would depend on additional conditions being fulfilled.
Iran has effectively restricted traffic through the waterway, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas flows, since the United States and Israel began military operations against Tehran in February.
Recent negotiations have centered on a proposed arrangement under which Iran and Oman would jointly oversee a new shipping route through the strait, with the aim of helping restore commercial navigation.
However, Araghchi said a full reopening would require other issues to be resolved, including compensation from the United States for what Tehran describes as violations of the ceasefire and negotiation framework agreed by both sides in June.
That Memorandum of Understanding was intended to halt hostilities and advance talks on ending the conflict, but it collapsed within days as diplomatic contacts broke down and retaliatory attacks resumed.
(Inputs from BBC)
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