Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs of the Islamic Republic, announced that an understanding between Iran and Oman regarding new commercial shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz is nearing finalization. However, he emphasized that the deal does not amount to a full reopening of the strait, but rather introduces a new transit framework that routes a significant portion of traffic through Iranian territorial waters.
Speaking to the IRNA news agency on Wednesday, August 5, Gharibabadi stated that Tehran and Muscat have reached agreements in principle on nearly all issues, including technical and operational aspects, as well as maps outlining maritime traffic entry and exit routes.
He stressed that the understanding is strictly bilateral, noting, “We do not recognize rights for any other country.”
The Deputy Foreign Minister added that the new maritime transit scheme differs from the mechanism used over the past six decades and was designed with current security conditions in mind.
According to Gharibabadi, once implemented, the temporary northern route near Larak Island and the southern route in Omani waters will be closed and replaced by a single new corridor.
