Iran Agrees Shipping Route in Strait of Hormuz with Oman, US Issues Stern Warning

The Iranian government has claimed it has reached an agreement with Oman regarding a shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic maritime passage has been disrupted since armed conflict broke out between Iran and the United States and Israel at the end of February. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the agreement on the ‘geographical coordinates of the route’ is in its final stages. However, he warned that the agreement with Oman alone does not guarantee navigational security in the region. Baqaei assessed that shipping security remains threatened by the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. ‘The factors that make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe still exist on the part of the United States, particularly the naval blockade and other aggressive and threatening actions against Iran and its interests,’ Baqaei said, citing Iran’s official news agency, IRNA. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi added that the new route is temporary and is expected to remain open for two to four months. As of now, the US and Oman have not provided official comment on the proposal. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran. Trump asserted that Iran would be ‘hit very hard’ if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened soon. The statement came after senior US officials mentioned progress in talks to restore the flow of goods. However, Iran denied having conducted direct negotiations with Washington. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global trade artery through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies pass. Since the conflict began, ship traffic has plummeted drastically due to Iran’s strict enforcement of transit permits and attacks on vessels ignoring the rules. One of the crucial points of contention between Tehran and Washington is Iran’s threat to levy fees on passing ships. Previous diplomatic efforts resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US in June to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, the agreement collapsed within days after mutual attacks resumed, followed by port blockade actions by both sides in the region.