As Oman and Iran seek to regulate maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, they proposed a temporary transit plan. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met in Tehran and discussed establishing a joint maritime corridor in the strait.
A joint statement by the two countries proposed creating a temporary corridor to regulate passage through the strait and preparing a joint project to clear mines. The framework is intended to lay the groundwork for a permanent agreement on maritime traffic.
Security and sovereignty conditions
The meeting emphasized the importance of cooperation to reduce security threats in the Strait of Hormuz and protect the sovereignty of both countries. The sides held constructive consultations on developments in the strait.
The phased arrangement under discussion is expected to provide a workable basis for addressing the problems created by the current situation for maritime traffic. Technical negotiations are planned to continue on both a permanent maritime corridor and arrangements concerning the future management of the strait.
Proposal for joint talks with regional countries
The plan will also address mechanisms for managing maritime traffic, sharing information, and providing relevant navigation and security services.
Oman and Iran considered it important to hold joint talks with regional countries bordering the Gulf waters. The joint statement said that international law must be observed and the sovereign rights of coastal states respected.
The Strait of Hormuz remains an important transit route for oil and natural gas exports, as well as for trade and global supply chains.
Trump’s statement on mines
US President Donald Trump said in a statement the same day that the US Navy had informed him that all mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared or detonated.
Trump said Iran had been told that any ship or boat laying new mines would be immediately and systematically destroyed. Trump said the United States was monitoring every point of the strait through its space force and that a “zero-tolerance policy” was being applied to the laying of new mines.
Different approaches by Washington and Tehran
Trump’s statement diverges from the joint project proposed by Oman and Iran to clear the mines. Washington maintains that the mine-clearance operation in international waters has been completed.
The United States continues to regard the Strait of Hormuz as a free international waterway. Washington also opposes arrangements that would impose fees on ships or grant Iran an official role in managing maritime traffic.
The United States considers the southern route near Omani waters to be safer. This approach comes as the blockade of Iranian ports and the economic sanctions imposed on Tehran continue.
Previous efforts to establish arrangements
Washington had previously objected to arrangements that would allow fees to be charged under the name of navigation services or joint management of the strait. The United States argued that such practices were incompatible with the principle of freedom of international maritime traffic and contradicted the framework of the previous agreement signed with Iran.
The conflict chronology records that the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, after which the Strait of Hormuz was closed and Iran carried out attacks on Gulf countries and US and Israeli targets in the region. A ceasefire agreement was subsequently reached.
According to the same chronology, the United States resumed its attacks on Iran between July 8 and 24, while Iran targeted US military facilities and equipment in Arab countries, as well as infrastructure and civilian facilities in Arab countries.
After the fighting ended, talks resumed on establishing safe transit corridors for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Before this, Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 concerning freedom of maritime traffic, but the process failed to advance because of disagreements over the security of the strait.
