Iran says Oman route could reopen Hormuz but blames US for ongoing insecurity

Tehran says an agreed transit route with Oman could pave the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but warned the waterway would remain insecure while US naval actions continue, according to IOL.

Agreement with Oman advances but safety concerns remain

Iran announced on Wednesday that it and Oman had agreed the geographical coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and were finalising a joint statement to manage transit, according to IOL. The foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, told state media that the route had been agreed and that a draft joint statement containing the main considerations was in its final review and drafting stage, IOL reported.

Baqaei warned that even if an understanding with Oman were finalised, the strait would not be safe for all vessels. Baqaei said US naval measures were described by Iran as a blockade and other aggressive actions that made the strait insecure.

Recent incidents underscoring risk to shipping

Maritime security agencies reported fresh incidents that highlighted hazards for vessels in the area. Britain’s maritime security agency UKMTO said the captain of an oil tanker reported hearing two explosions while transiting the strait, IOL said; the agency reported the crew and vessel were safe.

Separately, Yemen’s Houthi movement said it had struck two Saudi oil tankers the Wafa and the Daisy with missiles, and described those as the eighth and ninth strikes since it launched a blockade of Saudi Arabia last month, IOL reported. Saudi authorities had not immediately commented, IOL said.

Wider stakes and diplomatic friction

Before the current conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried a significant share of the world’s oil and LNG exports, and disruptions have repeatedly pushed prices higher, IOL reported.

Iran has imposed an effective blockade on the strait and has insisted ships follow a route close to its coast. Many vessels have instead taken a southern route near Oman, at times coming under fire, IOL said. Tehran has sought to control the strait and assert powers such as charging tolls that it did not exercise before the war, a move the United States opposes, according to IOL.

IOL also reported that US officials acknowledged frustrations with the pace of diplomacy. US Vice-President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News that negotiations would take time because of divisions within Iran’s leadership and that diplomacy would be slow.

About IOL

According to IOL, it is one of South Africa’s leading news and information websites, bringing millions of readers breaking news and updates across politics, current affairs, business, lifestyle, entertainment, travel, sport, motoring and technology.

Edit summary

• Changed attribution so the description of US naval measures as a blockade and aggressive actions is clearly attributed to Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei (“Baqaei said …”) instead of being presented as “according to IOL.”
• Rewrote the sentence about JD Vance to attribute the quote directly to him: “US Vice-President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News…” and removed the “according to IOL” attribution from that quote.
• Scanned and preserved other IOL attributions for reporting actions and statements, ensuring direct quotes and characterisations are attributed to their original speakers where present.

Article status: revised draft