Iran and Oman Have Agreed on Shipping Routes Through the Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman have agreed on the coordinates of shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz as part of an agreement to partially resume shipping. Ships heading toward the strait must use the northern lane in Iranian territorial waters, while those leaving must use the southern lane in Omani waters, as coordinated with Tehran, Al Jazeera English reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on August 8 that an agreement with Oman is “very close.” At the same time, he emphasized that the full reopening of the strait would depend on the U.S. fulfilling the commitments made under the memorandum of understanding signed in June. According to Araghchi, these commitments have been violated.
Hossein Mohoggi, a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told state media that the resumption of the strait’s operation has “its own specific mechanism” and is not linked to the negotiations between Iran and Oman. He also said that the U.S. would have to agree to the Islamic Republic’s conditions for the full reopening of the waterway. Hassan Kashkavi, a representative of the parliamentary committee on national security, reported that the framework of the agreement has been agreed upon, but the final decision requires approval “at the highest level.”
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According to U.S. media reports, a temporary agreement could be signed for 60 days with the possibility of extension. Among the issues discussed were the demining of the central corridor, the passage of military ships, and a possible coordinated system for collecting fees from vessels. Iran has stated that a full resumption of traffic requires the U.S. to lift the naval blockade of its southern ports and reduce its military presence.
Amid the negotiations, the UAE reported that on August 8, a vessel belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which was passing through the Strait of Hormuz, was targeted by a missile strike. According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there were no casualties. The ministry accused the IRGC of attacking commercial shipping.
Ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has decreased significantly following the latest escalation, although it has since partially resumed. At the close of trading on August 7, the price of Brent crude stood at about $83 per barrel.
