Iran's foreign ministry says it has agreed geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, with a joint announcement being finalised — but Tehran cautions the deal would not by itself guarantee the waterway's security.
Key facts
- Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
- A joint announcement is being finalised, provided certain third parties do not interfere, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
- Baghaei said the agreement alone would not guarantee security in the strategic waterway.
- The BBC reported the deal was described as being in its final stages, with no detailed terms given.
- Under the proposed agreement, Tehran would control inbound traffic, according to reports cited by the Guardian.
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday, according to the Guardian. A joint announcement is being finalised, he said, provided certain third parties do not interfere.
Baghaei cautioned that any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway, the Guardian reported. He did not provide detailed terms of the arrangement.
The BBC reported that the foreign ministry spokesman did not give details but said an agreement with the Gulf nation was “in the final stages.”
According to reports cited by the Guardian, under the proposed agreement Tehran would control inbound traffic through the strait. Al Jazeera also reported that Iran and Oman had agreed on new coordinates for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The developments come amid a broader Middle East crisis being tracked in live coverage that also included reports on Lebanon and other regional flashpoints. The Guardian reported that three rights organisations — Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Legal Agenda — said an Israeli strike in April that killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured her colleague Zeinab Faraj was a war crime, calling for it to be investigated as such.
As of the latest updates, the joint statement between Iran and Oman had not been formally released, with officials describing it as still being finalised.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints, and any change to how traffic moves through it can affect global energy supplies and regional tensions. An agreement between Iran and Oman on a route signals possible coordination in the waterway, though Tehran's own warning that the deal would not guarantee security underscores how fragile the situation remains.
Frequently asked questions
What have Iran and Oman agreed on?
According to Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, the two countries have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, with a joint announcement being finalised.
Will the agreement guarantee safety in the Strait of Hormuz?
No. Baghaei said any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway.
Who would control traffic under the proposed deal?
According to reports cited by the Guardian, under the proposed agreement Tehran would control inbound traffic through the strait.