In a new step within the efforts aimed at regulating navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sultanate of Oman has prepared a proposal to manage the movement of ships through two separate routes, at a time when discussions continue between Tehran and Muscat regarding the future of the strategic waterway.
CNN quoted an informed source on Saturday that the Sultanate of Oman had prepared a proposal to manage navigation traffic in the Strait of Hormuz through two separate routes.
The network added that the agreement, which has not yet been signed in its final form, stipulates that both corridors remain open, so that the southern corridor, passing through Omani territorial waters, allows freedom of navigation as it was before the war.
As for the Northern Corridor, which passes through Iranian territorial waters, ships wishing to use it will need prior approval from Iran, provided that no fees will be imposed under the agreement.
In this context, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat, where the two sides discussed mechanisms to ensure the safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
American officials had previously revealed that the United States and Iran would resume negotiations in the Sultanate of Oman on Saturday, noting that Washington had asked Tehran to issue a statement confirming that all routes through the Strait of Hormuz were open, and that it would not target ships again.
ABC News quoted American officials as saying that the United States expects the Strait of Hormuz to return to its pre-war status, warning that if Iran does not announce the full reopening of the Strait “it will not be a happy day for it.”
After signing the memorandum of understanding in June, Washington and Tehran held two rounds of talks, the first directly in Switzerland and the second indirectly in Qatar, without achieving any progress.
As part of efforts to advance the negotiations, a Qatari delegation arrived in Iran on Friday, according to Tasnim Agency, with Doha playing a mediating role between Tehran and Washington.
Pakistan, which plays a similar mediation role, also called on Iran to preserve its “hard-won peace gains” with the United States, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on the “X” platform.
