Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced on Sunday that Iran and Oman are negotiating a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz that would be acceptable to both countries.
Speaking in an interview with Iran’s state television, Baghaei described the talks as “moving forward” and said the two sides aim to reach an agreement on a permanent Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) within a reasonable timeframe after securing an arrangement that safeguards Iran’s national security.
According to Baghaei, the proposed maritime route would be designed to respect the sovereign rights of both Iran and Oman and would not follow either the northern or southern navigation corridor.
He also stressed that the negotiations over a new shipping lane are unrelated to whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open or closed to maritime traffic.
His remarks came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier on Sunday that discussions between Tehran and Muscat on navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz had entered their final stage.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any changes to navigation arrangements are therefore closely watched by regional and international stakeholders.
