Tehran, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Iran and Oman are close to finalising an agreement on new arrangements for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian diplomat said, as tensions continue over maritime movement in the strategic waterway.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran and Muscat had reached an initial understanding on most key issues, including the proposed entry and exit route map, following more than three weeks of discussions.
In an interview with Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Gharibabadi said the proposed arrangement would replace the existing temporary northern and southern routes with a single route passing through Iranian territorial waters for a period of two to four months.
However, he clarified that the agreement would not amount to a complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Gharibabadi also rejected claims by the United States regarding ongoing negotiations with Iran, saying Tehran had received messages from Washington indicating its willingness to return to commitments under a peace memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in June.
A source close to Iran’s negotiating team told semi-official Fars news agency that any reopening of the strait would depend on concrete implementation of US commitments. The source added that the US Treasury Department’s decision to lift sanctions on an Iraqi airline was unrelated to the Iran-US MoU.
Iran tightened controls over the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, restricting safe passage for vessels linked to Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The United States later carried out multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets, saying the action was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the region.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and facilities across the region.
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