According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, citing sources, after intensive technical and diplomatic consultations, Iran and Oman reached an agreement in Iran's Reshchahrivar district earlier this month (around the end of August). The understanding between Iran and Oman is scheduled to be formally announced soon, with foreign ministers from Gulf littoral states attending the meeting. The source close to the negotiating team stated that the understanding was reached solely by Iran and Oman; other countries attended the meeting to understand the specific details of the relevant shipping routes and passage arrangements, and also to implicitly assure the international community that these countries do not oppose the arrangements.
The source stated that, according to the understanding, Iran and Oman have agreed on a new shipping route into and out of the Strait of Hormuz and its specific arrangements. Under this understanding, the route into the Persian Gulf will be entirely within Iranian territorial waters, as will the route out of the Persian Gulf.
He added that ships will pass through this route under Iranian arrangements. Once implemented, this arrangement will close the southern shipping route, which the United States insists on opening, a major trigger for the recent surge in tensions.
The source indicated that Iraq, along with Iran, Oman, and other Persian Gulf states, will also attend the meeting.
However, these countries are only learning about the outcome of the negotiations between Iran and Oman; the specific details of the understanding have already been finalized during technical talks between Iran and Oman.
He emphasized, "This understanding absolutely does not mean the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened." He pointed out that Iran has presented the United States with seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz through intermediaries. The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these seven conditions are met and approved by the highest levels of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
