Iran top negotiator departs for Muscat to discuss Hormuz Strait cooperation

Iran’s top negotiator in the talks with the United States, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has left Tehran for Muscat to hold high-level talks with Omani officials about cooperation on the Strait of Hormuz.  

The Iranian Parliament speaker departed for Muscat on Monday and is scheduled to meet with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

The discussions will focus on promoting bilateral cooperation and coordinating efforts to stabilize arrangements for Iranian administration of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is accompanying Qalibaf on the trip.

The Iranian delegation's talks with Omani leaders are seen as part of the Islamic Republic’s broader efforts to strengthen ties with regional partners and address strategic maritime concerns.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his American counterpart Donald Trump formally signed a 14-point Islamabad memorandum of understanding on June 18, with the text finalized and the agreement officially in effect, following months of intensive negotiations mediated by Pakistan, with support from other regional countries.

Under the MoU, the two sides have entered a 60-day negotiation period, with the goal of reaching a comprehensive final agreement.

According to Paragraph 5 of the MoU, Iran will make arrangements upon the signing of the deal, using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels, with no charge for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman, to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in discussions with other Persian Gulf Littoral States, in line with applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz,” it said.

Iran issues new passage guidelines for ships transiting Strait of Hormuz

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority issues a compulsory online clearance system for all vessels intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran on Friday issued a compulsory online clearance system requiring all vessels intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz to register their passage requests through a new centralized online system, effective immediately, as per the newly inked Islamabad MoU.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) issued the binding directive, introducing a 60-day window during which transit fees will be waived by the Iranian government.

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