Talks with Oman, reopening of Hormuz separate issues: Iran FM

Muscat: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Tehran is continuing talks with the Sultanate of Oman on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, but warns reopening the waterway will depend on the US upholding the MoU signed in June.

He said, “Our negotiations with Oman are ongoing. That is a completely separate matter. It is a technical issue concerning the designation of maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz for the passage of ships.”

The routes that existed previously are no longer functional, so a new route needs to be defined. For now, we are designing a temporary route, which can then, at a later stage, be turned into a final route, he said.

“We may reach an outcome soon, but I want to emphasise that these negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz are two separate issues. This is a technical negotiation concerning the designation of a maritime route.” “Once this route has been determined, whether the Strait will be reopened or not will depend on the fulfilment of other conditions to which the United States must adhere.”