The Sultanate of Oman expressed its condemnation of the repeated attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which constitutes a violation of international law and the sovereignty of territorial waters, and poses a threat to the safety of maritime navigation and the security and stability in the region.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the Sultanate of Oman affirmed that the ongoing talks regarding arrangements of navigation on the Strait of Hormuz are proceeding in a positive and constructive atmosphere. It stressed the importance of avoiding any actions that could affect the talks and the progress achieved which takes into account the interests of all parties.
Earlier, Iran said that a deal on Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
An agreement over the strait is seen as vital to a wider deal to end the war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and led to Tehran establishing a chokehold over the major energy export route. A US official, who declined to be identified, had said on Friday that Washington anticipated an agreement soon so that normal oil traffic could resume.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and Oman were “very close” to agreement on a new shipping route through the strait but that reopening it depended on other conditions, including US compensation to Iran.
The secretary of Iran’s top national security body, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, listed other demands including ending US threats against Iran, stopping aggression against Iran and its Lebanese, Palestinian, Yemeni and Iraqi allies, lifting a blockade and sanctions on Iran and freeing Iranian assets.
Araqchi said the previous shipping traffic separation scheme through the strait was no longer acceptable to Tehran and that Iran was discussing a temporary route while technical and legal issues surrounding a permanent route were resolved.
The UAE has reported an attack on a carrier affiliated with its state oil company with a missile as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, with no injuries reported, in the latest escalation in attacks on shipping there.
The UK maritime trade monitor UKMTO said a vessel had caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile but the fire was put out and there was no reported environmental impact.
There was no immediate comment from Iranian authorities.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has repeatedly signalled that a deal to open the strait could be close, only to have Iran deny that talks are under way. It was unclear whether the latest flurry of negotiations would yield a more lasting arrangement. — Agencies
