SAEDNEWS: Iran-Oman Understanding Does Not Guarantee Reopening of Strait of Hormuz
According to Saednews, Speaking to Tasnim, a source familiar with the Iranian negotiating team said that following intensive technical and diplomatic negotiations, which concluded with a final agreement in late August, an understanding between Tehran and Muscat is expected to be announced soon in the presence of the foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf littoral states.
The source emphasized that the agreement is exclusively between Iran and Oman. The other participating countries will attend only to receive a briefing on the proposed routes and transit arrangements, effectively signaling to the international community that they have no objection to the plan.
According to the source, the agreement sets out specific arrangements for new entry and exit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is shared by Iran and Oman.
Under the agreement, the inbound route into the Persian Gulf will run entirely through Iranian territorial waters, while part of the outbound route will also fall within Iranian waters.
The source added that vessels using the route will be subject to Iranian protocols. Once the arrangement takes effect, the southern route—which the United States had demanded be opened and which has been a major source of recent tensions—will be closed.
The source further said that Iraq will also participate in the upcoming meeting, alongside Iran, Oman, and the other Persian Gulf littoral states. However, these countries will simply be informed of the outcome of the Iran-Oman negotiations, as all decisions concerning the details of the agreement were finalized during technical meetings held exclusively between Tehran and Muscat.
The source stressed that the agreement does not constitute the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, he said, has conveyed seven conditions to the United States through intermediaries for reopening the strait. The waterway will remain closed until all seven conditions, which have been approved by Iran’s highest authorities, are fulfilled.
Accordingly, the Iran-Oman understanding should not be interpreted as an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Rather, it establishes the framework that would govern any future reopening and is viewed by Tehran as a step toward reinforcing Iran’s sovereignty over the strait.
The source concluded that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will depend entirely on the United States’ conduct and its implementation of Iran’s stated conditions.
