Iranian official Garibabadi outlined the details of the agreement between Iran and Oman on maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Under the agreement, a temporary joint transit corridor 7 miles wide will be used in the strait.
Southern route to be closed
Garibabadi said the agreement also included the closure of the southern route through the strait. The official said Oman had agreed to close the route completely and that Iran's armed forces were currently not allowing vessels to pass through it.
The Iranian official said the 7-mile route would not be permanent. Garibabadi said negotiations with Oman on establishing a permanent maritime transit corridor were continuing.
Tehran defends its control over the strait
Garibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and that Iran had full control over it. The official rejected claims that ships were passing through the strait and said the United States and other countries should understand that passage would only be possible under arrangements set by Iran.
End of war and blockade required for reopening
Garibabadi said the United States must first fully fulfill all the commitments it had violated before the strait could be reopened. He called for those obligations to be met before any steps were taken on the matter.
Garibabadi said the strait would be reopened only after the war ended on all fronts, the blockade was lifted and the situation in Yemen was resolved.
Text of agreement not disclosed
Garibabadi said the written text of the agreements between Iran and Oman had not been published and that a press statement had instead been issued. The official said this was because the Tehran administration had not yet made any commitments.
Reaction to minesweepers
Garibabadi also addressed statements by some U.S. officials claiming that mines in the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared or that ships would be sent to the region for that purpose. He asked why U.S. ships had not passed through the strait if the mines had supposedly been completely cleared.
The Iranian official claimed that no one other than Iran knew the location of the mines and opposed the U.S. plan to send minesweepers. Garibabadi said the vessels would be considered targets by Iran if they entered the region.
Garibabadi also claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about mine clearance were intended to calm the markets.
Message to the United States during Pakistan visit
Garibabadi announced that Iran had sent a message to the United States during the visit to Tehran by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. He said the message stated that no further negotiations were needed, that the United States must comply with the Islamabad agreement and that it must fulfill its commitments under the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
