Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Sunday that talks with Oman on a new maritime corridor in the Strait of Hormuz were nearing their conclusion, while Washington and Israel suspended their strikes against Iran pending an agreement.
Negotiations between Tehran and Muscat over the Strait of Hormuz are entering their "final stages," Abbas Araghchi said in a message posted on Telegram on Sunday. The Iranian foreign minister added that he had presented his cabinet with a report describing the discussions as "nearing completion."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei provided details on the nature of the proposed agreement. The two countries are seeking to define a maritime route distinct from existing shipping lanes, one that would be neither the northern nor the southern route. "We will reach an agreement on a route acceptable to both parties, which respects each other's sovereign rights and safeguards our national interests and security," he told Iranian state television. Muscat did not immediately respond.
The Strait of Hormuz, whose territorial waters are shared between Iran and Oman, represents a major strategic crossroads: approximately 20% of the world's oil consumption normally passes through it. Since the outbreak of the conflict, Iran has maintained de facto control. American and Israeli strikes began on February 28, targeting Iran's missile program, its nuclear capabilities, and its support networks for allied armed groups. A ceasefire agreed upon in June collapsed within weeks, with fighting resuming in July amid disagreements specifically concerning shipping lanes in the strait.
Baghaei was careful to distinguish between the two issues: "An agreement between Iran and Oman on a new corridor has nothing to do with the question of reopening or maintaining the closure of the Strait of Hormuz." He blamed the closure on the United States, accusing them of violating their commitments and imposing a naval blockade on Iran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, for his part, asserted that the memorandum of understanding signed with Washington would constitute the "cornerstone" of Tehran's foreign policy. "We must strive to compel the enemy to respect what it has signed. The security of our country, the region, and our allies will be strengthened by this memorandum," he wrote on X.
The spokesman for the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee, Hassam Ghashghavi, confirmed that mediators were working to revive the June memorandum, aware that the Strait of Hormuz remained the central point of contention. An Iranian delegation may travel to Muscat again as part of this ongoing diplomatic effort.
These statements come the day after an announcement of Donald TrumpThe US president, who indicated early Sunday that the United States and Israel had agreed to suspend further strikes against Iran, provided an agreement is reached "quickly," stated on his Truth Social platform that this agreement should include "the immediate, full, and complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz" and end the Iranian nuclear threat. He added that Israel was joining this commitment.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday to urge him to "prioritize dialogue" and "de-escalate," according to the Saudi Press Agency. The American website Axios reported that the Crown Prince expressed his concerns about Washington's plans for new massive airstrikes.
From Tehran, correspondent Tohid Asadi summarized the situation: Iran is simultaneously receiving contradictory signals from the American president, oscillating between threats of confrontation and promises of an agreement within reach. Tehran is responding in kind, maintaining the diplomatic path while simultaneously displaying full military readiness for a new round.
Community
Comments
Write a comment
Be the first to comment on this article.