Iran and Oman are close to an agreement on a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, but its opening also depends on other conditions.
Modern.az reports, citing the Telegram channel of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), that this was stated by MFA head Abbas Araqchi at a press conference held on August 8.
"Negotiations with Oman on the legal mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz and determining the route of ship movement are ongoing. We are very close to an agreement, but the opening of the strait depends on other conditions, including the elimination of the consequences of the violations committed by the US regarding the Islamabad memorandum," he said.
According to Araqchi, the previously existing system for separating ship traffic no longer satisfies Iran. It is necessary to develop a new scheme, which is accompanied by significant technical and legal difficulties.
"Considering these difficulties, a temporary route is currently being discussed. It will operate until a new permanent scheme is agreed upon and will become its basis. Military and naval representatives of Iran and Oman have held negotiations based on existing maps. After these negotiations are finalized, a new route will be determined," the minister noted.
Araqchi also accused the US of violating the Islamabad memorandum, stating that each such case should be considered individually.
"Iran fulfilled the fifth point of the memorandum, according to which shipping was supposed to return to its usual level within a month. Within two weeks, its intensity reached 60% of the normal level. However, the Americans, despite Iran's warnings, began to try to create new routes in the Strait of Hormuz, questioning Iran's role in managing the strait. The violation of the memorandum and the disputing of this role are absolutely unacceptable for Tehran," Araqchi said.
