Iran and Oman will open a temporary corridor through the Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman discussed the creation of a joint temporary corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, which is intended to ensure the safe passage of ships, and also agreed to jointly clear the strait of mines.
The agreement was discussed by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi during a meeting in Tehran.
The proposed corridor is intended to temporarily restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Technical negotiations between Iran and Oman will continue. The countries plan to agree on a permanent route through the strait, a traffic management system, information sharing, and rules for providing navigation and safety services.
Separately, the parties agreed to jointly clear the strait of mines, which should reduce risks to civilian shipping.
Before the war began in February, approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
After hostilities began, most shipping through the strait came to a halt, exacerbating risks for global energy markets.
At the same time, the danger to ships remains. On Tuesday, an unidentified projectile struck an oil tanker about 17 km from Ash-Shish in Oman, near the entrance to the strait.
The strike damaged the engine room, and the vessel lost propulsion. The crew members were unharmed.
Reuters reported this, citing a joint statement from the two countries.
The foreign ministers of Iran and Oman discussed a phased framework for establishing a joint temporary navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and a project to clear it of mines.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. Navy had removed or detonated all mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned Iran that any vessel attempting to lay new mines would be destroyed. At the same time, the International Maritime Safety Center warns that the danger of mines in the Strait area still remains, and mine clearance and survey operations are ongoing.
