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Hormuz route draft nears
Iran and Oman have agreed a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are putting the final touches on arrangements for jointly managing the waterway, Tehran's foreign ministry said Wednesday.
“the joint statement of the two countries, containing the main considerations and points of agreement, is also in the final review and drafting stage”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the joint statement is in the final review and drafting stage, adding that it would be issued only if “certain third parties do not obstruct the process.”
Baqaei also warned that even if an understanding is reached, it would not mean the strait had become safe for all passing vessels because “the factors making the Strait of Hormuz insecure still exist on the part of the United States.”
The Korea Times reported that Iran has seized de facto control of the strait since the United States and Israel launched their war against the country on February 28, and that Hormuz carried around “a fifth of the world's oil and LNG exports” before the dispute erupted.
Trump teases reopening
President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the waterway could be announced as soon as Wednesday, telling reporters “a lot of progress had been made” while traveling to Las Vegas.
CBS News said Trump suggested an announcement could be made as soon as Wednesday, and it also noted that Iran and Oman agreed Wednesday to a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and were putting final touches on arrangements for jointly managing the passage.
The Korea Times reported that Trump has repeatedly insisted Tehran is keen to do a deal to reopen the route to shipping, while Iran denies this and says it will instead make arrangements with its neighbour across the strait, Oman.
In parallel, Iran’s foreign ministry denied negotiations were taking place with Washington, and Baqaei said talks with Oman were moving forward even as he stressed the strait would remain insecure while the United States maintains its naval blockade and other “aggressive and threatening actions against Iran and its interests.”
What’s at stake next
The Al Jazeera report said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that progress has been made in talks between Oman and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, raising hopes that a key sticking point could soon be resolved.
“progress has been made in talks between Oman and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz”
Al Jazeera also quoted Rubio saying Washington was involved in the negotiations and that progress had been made, but no final agreement had yet been reached, while Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said talks with Oman had been “positive” and were continuing.
The Korea Times framed the dispute as a struggle over the strait after the closure reduced traffic to “near standstill,” with prices surging and economic and political pressure on Washington.
Both outlets tied the next phase to how shipping would operate, with Al Jazeera saying officials are seeking a mechanism that would allow shipping to resume safely, and the Korea Times reporting that Iran wants to control the strait and charge tolls, a move the U.S. would oppose.
