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Oman and Iran discussed developments affecting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, with their foreign ministers stressing the need to reach "practical understandings" that could pave the way for the free flow of maritime traffic.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, spoke by phone amid continued disruptions to traffic through the strait and persistent tensions between Iran and the United States, Oman News Agency reported.
The two diplomats also discussed ways to create conditions for renewed dialogue, narrow differences and reach peaceful solutions while taking the interests of all parties into account, according to the news agency.
Their call came after Tehran announced in early August that it had reached an understanding with Muscat on the geographic coordinates of a proposed maritime corridor for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
At the time, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides had agreed on the corridor’s geographic criteria, while a joint statement outlining the main points of agreement remained to be finalized.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below prewar levels amid continued security risks and frequent attacks on commercial vessels traversing regional waters.
On Friday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, reported that traffic through the strait stood about 90% below prewar levels. In mid-August, UKMTO reported that maritime traffic had reached 17% of its prewar average after falling to 4% the previous week.
The talks came as a June memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, which called for a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of shipping through the strait, fell through amid disputes over its implementation and the future of navigation through the waterway.
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