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Iran-Oman bilateral talks on Strait of Hormuz progressing positively, FM spokesman says

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei attends a weekly press conference in Tehran on August 3, 2026. (Photo by IQNA)

Iran and Oman are continuing talks on establishing safe shipping arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says.

The discussions are progressing positively at both technical and political levels between the two countries, Baghaei said on Tuesday.

“The talks, which are being held between the two coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz, are focused on establishing safe shipping routes while safeguarding the sovereign rights and security interests of Iran and Oman alike,” Baghaei said.

The Iranian official noted that Tehran is working with Muscat to develop the necessary mechanisms for future shipping arrangements.

Baghaei said the final outcome of the talks would be announced after the discussions are concluded.

Iranian officials maintain that the talks are a bilateral process between Tehran and Muscat and do not involve the United States, despite comments by some US officials suggesting Washington has a role in the developments related to the strategic waterway.

A source familiar with the negotiations told Press TV on Tuesday that talks between Tehran and Muscat over a new corridor in the Strait of Hormuz have entered a new phase notwithstanding efforts by the White House to obstruct the process.

According to the source, negotiations with Oman began shortly after a ceasefire was reached in April and entered a more serious stage following a subsequent agreement. Iran, the source said, has been pursuing consultations with Oman and other regional countries regarding future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz.

The source also said the objective of the talks is to establish a new corridor that would ensure safe passage through the Strait while addressing Iran’s right to sovereignty and security concerns as a coastal state.

The proposed arrangement, according to the source, would create a middle corridor for maritime traffic, while the existing northern and southern routes would be suspended once the new mechanism becomes operational.

The source underscored the bilateral nature of the Iran-Oman talks, without the involvement of Washington, underscoring the fact that President Donald Trump of the United States is attempting to portray himself as influential in the talks.

Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent recently commented on the talks, trying to imply that Washington plays a role. 

The source said previous US actions and the use of the waterway by Washington and its regional allies had prompted Iran to seek new arrangements to ensure that its sovereignty, interests, and national security considerations are fully protected.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, has been at the center of heightened tensions in recent months following escalating disputes over maritime security and regional military activities.

The source said the existing shipping corridor in the Strait has been located in Omani territorial waters since 1968 and that Iran had previously not objected to the arrangement.

However, Tehran now argues that recent developments require a revised framework for maritime traffic management in the strategic waterway.

 


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