Iran says arrangements with Oman have been reached for a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, but reopening remains conditional on US commitments.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills commitments outlined in an understanding reached during ongoing regional tensions, according to Iranian officials cited by media reports.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said arrangements had been agreed between Iran and Oman for managing passage through the strategic waterway. However, he said the decision to reopen the route remains conditional on the United States fulfilling its stated responsibilities.
Gharibabadi said those responsibilities relate to provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, including a complete end to military attacks against Iran and the lifting of the naval blockade of the country.
His remarks came after discussions between Tehran and Muscat over establishing a new temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Gharibabadi previously described the proposed route as operating like a “return highway,” under which vessels would enter from the Iranian side and exit through Oman.
He also said the Strait of Hormuz remains completely closed and that any vessel movement through the waterway would require Iranian permission and coordination. According to Gharibabadi, Iran’s armed forces are fully aware of all activity in the strait, and claims by the United States that vessels are passing through the waterway are incorrect.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s Statement
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of attempting to manipulate global energy markets through the media.
Araghchi said Washington was trying to influence the energy market to prolong the war. He added that the effects of the ongoing conflict and regional tensions were not limited to the battlefield but were also having significant consequences for the global economy and energy markets.
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