Deal with Oman on Hormuz 'Very Close', Reopening Tied to US Compensation for MoU Violations: Iran

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said that the deal with Oman on a legal mechanism for managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is "very close", but reopening the strategic waterway will be subject to additional conditions, including compensation from the United States over what Iran described as violations of an earlier 14-point memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in June.

Speaking at the Iranian President's press conference with reporters on Saturday, Araghchi said negotiations with Oman were focused on determining a new route for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the two sides were close to reaching an agreement.

"Negotiations with Oman regarding the legal mechanism and management of the Strait of Hormuz regarding determining the route of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz are underway, and we are very close to an agreement, but the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is subject to other conditions, including compensation for violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by the United States," Araghchi said.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said a previously used traffic separation scheme (TSS) through the Strait was no longer acceptable to Tehran and that a new route would need to be established. "In the past, there was a TSS or route that the Islamic Republic considers no longer acceptable for ship traffic, and it is necessary to consider a new TSS, which, of course, has extensive technical and legal complexities," he said.

Araghchi further stated that Iran and Oman were therefore discussing a temporary route that could serve as the basis for a permanent maritime traffic route until a new arrangement is finalised. "Due to technical and legal complexities, we are currently talking about a temporary route. Before a new route is reached, a temporary route will be considered as the basis for the main route," he said.

He added that military and naval officials from Iran and Oman had already held negotiations based on existing maritime maps and that the final route would be determined after those discussions conclude. On the question of the memorandum of understanding, Araghchi blamed the United States for violating the agreement and said Iran had complied with its provisions.

"It was the United States that violated the memorandum of understanding," Araghchi said, adding that under Clause 5 of the MoU, traffic conditions were expected to return to normal within a month. According to Araghchi, maritime traffic had reached around 60 per cent of normal levels within two weeks, but he alleged that the United States subsequently sought to establish new routes through the Strait despite warnings from Tehran.

He accused Washington of attempting to undermine Iran's management of the Strait of Hormuz, describing what he called the violation of the memorandum and Iran's authority over the waterway as "absolutely unacceptable". The statement comes as a US official stated on Friday that progress has been made in talks between Iran and Oman, which could lead to the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and restore oil exports disrupted by the five-month-old conflict.

Reuters, citing the US official speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that Washington expects an agreement shortly between Iran and Oman, the two nations bordering the waterway, allowing standard commercial oil shipments to resume. Securing a deal over control of the strategic passage is considered a key stepping stone toward a broader peace agreement.

"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon. Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports," the official said, as quoted by Reuters. (With ANI Inputs)

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