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A potential agreement between Iran and Oman on future shipping arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz would not result in the waterway’s immediate reopening, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported Wednesday, citing an informed source.
The source said negotiations over future navigation arrangements were being conducted exclusively between Tehran and Muscat and “have nothing to do with the United States.”
Even if the two countries reach an agreement, the strait would remain closed while what Tehran describes as U.S. violations continue, according to the report.
“The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on a change in U.S. behavior and the correction of its violations,” the source said.
The report came a day after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations with Oman were progressing positively at both technical and political levels.
Baghaei said the talks focused on establishing mechanisms to manage shipping traffic through the strategic waterway while protecting the sovereign rights and national security interests of Iran and Oman.
Iranian media have also reported that Tehran was close to reaching an understanding with Muscat on a new navigation corridor, provided the U.S. stopped interfering in the negotiations.
Iranian officials have repeatedly accused Washington of attempting to influence the talks and delay an agreement through military threats.
The negotiations stem from a memorandum of understanding signed by Iran and the U.S. on June 18 to end a war that began Feb. 28 following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Under the memorandum, Tehran and Muscat were tasked with negotiating future arrangements for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Broader talks on implementing the agreement have continued.
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