Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi met his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran yesterday to discuss a phased approach to managing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained largely closed nearly six months after the Iran war began.
In a joint statement, the two countries said the proposed framework includes the establishment of a joint temporary navigational corridor and joint efforts to clear mines from the waterway.
They added that Iran and Oman would continue technical negotiations aimed at establishing a permanent shipping corridor and reaching an agreement on the future administration of the strait.
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told state television that the two countries had reached an understanding on a temporary route.
Under the proposed arrangement, vessels entering the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman would travel entirely through Iranian waters, while outbound traffic would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through Oman’s territorial waters.
Gharibabadi said Iran and Oman would then hold negotiations over the next 30 to 60 days to reach an understanding on a new permanent and sustainable route.
The meeting came after US President Donald Trump last week threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of American efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
