Iranian Foreign Minister says Hormuz Strait talks with Oman entering final stage

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that talks with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz are entering their final stage. He told a cabinet meeting that the negotiations have progressed and are in the process of being finalised.

While briefing on the Iran-Oman talks in an interview with state television channel IRIB TV on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that reaching an agreement between the two countries is unrelated to the reopening or further closure of the waterway.

Baghaei said Iran and Oman are working to establish a new route in the strait in the format of a traffic separation scheme that can guarantee the sovereign rights of both parties, as well as Iran’s national interests and security.

Tehran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on 28 February.

The US military carried out several waves of strikes against targets in Iran last month, stating that the attacks were a response to Iranian strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and aimed to “degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping”.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting US military bases and facilities in the Middle East region.