Iran has said negotiations with Oman over establishing a temporary safe maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz have entered their final stage, amid heightened tensions in the strategically important waterway.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said during a weekly press conference that discussions with Oman on identifying a secure maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz were nearing completion.
In this regard, Baghaei said the two countries could register their understanding with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) within the coming days.
The proposed arrangement is aimed at providing commercial vessels with a clearer and relatively safer route through the strategically important waterway.
The development comes as concerns over maritime security have intensified because of the broader military and political tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Baghaei attributed the current tensions in the Strait of Hormuz to what Iran described as US and Israeli military aggression and a blockade against Tehran.
He also cautioned that ships would not be able to travel through the waterway with a full sense of confidence and security as long as the current situation continued.
The proposed temporary route, according to the Iranian position, would offer vessels a more clearly defined passage while efforts continue to address the wider security situation.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
In such a case, Oman has historically played a role in regional diplomacy and maintaining communication between parties involved in Middle Eastern tensions.
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For now, the focus remains on whether Tehran and Muscat can finalize their understanding and establish a workable maritime arrangement. If implemented, the temporary passage could provide some relief to commercial shipping while wider efforts continue to reduce tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
