Iran says Hormuz talks with Oman in ‘final’ stages as route approved

What the report says

Iran said talks with Oman on new transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz have reached a late stage, with the two sides agreeing on the route’s geographical coordinates, according to Tehran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussions have been underway for about two months and are intended to establish a safer passage for commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.

Baghaei said a joint statement is being drafted and reviewed, while Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, told state media that the countries had reached understanding on nearly all issues, including entry and exit points for maritime traffic. He said the proposed route would run partly through Iranian waters and partly through Omani waters, replacing temporary routes that would be closed for the time being.

The report comes against the backdrop of heightened disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. Al Jazeera reported that Iran has kept the waterway under near-total closure amid an ongoing confrontation involving Iran, the US and Israel, with broader tensions affecting oil and liquefied natural gas flows. The article also noted that Washington has said it would not accept any arrangement that leaves Iran in control of the strait.

The development matters because any change in access through Hormuz can affect world energy supplies, shipping insurance and regional security. As reported by Al Jazeera, the talks are not yet final, and officials cautioned that outside interference could still affect the outcome.