Tehran has announced that it has reached an agreement with Oman to open a maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, with negotiations on the initiative entering their final stage.
Të lidhura
None found
Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said the parties had determined the geographical coordinates of the new corridor but did not disclose further details about the project.
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, the route will be temporary and is expected to operate for a period of two to four months.
Iranian authorities clarified, however, that the agreement does not guarantee the safety of navigation. Tehran attributes the insecurity in the region to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world’s key energy transportation chokepoints, with approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passing through it.
Maritime traffic in the area has declined significantly since the escalation of the conflict between Iran, the U.S. and Israel. At the same time, Iran has imposed strict controls on the passage of ships.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Tehran of serious consequences if the strait is not reopened within a short period. Iran, meanwhile, denies that it is negotiating with the U.S. on the issue, although there have been reports of progress toward the resumption of maritime transport.
A major point of contention remains Iran’s intention to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Reports indicate that Tehran is seeking a payment amounting to 5–7% of the cargo’s value. Oman has proposed a rate of around 3%, while the U.S. rejects the imposition of any fee.
