Iran says deal with Oman on control of strait is close
Iran has said that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, while the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
Iran and Oman are reportedly very close to reaching an agreement on control of the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran is not satisfied with reopening it solely based on this deal. The deal would involve a temporary shipping route through the strait while technical and legal aspects of a permanent route are addressed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the existing shipping traffic separation scheme is no longer viable for Iran, indicating the need for a permanent solution.
The United Arab Emirates reported that Iran had attacked a ship affiliated with their state oil company in the strait, causing no injuries. US officials anticipate an agreement soon between Iran and Oman to resume normal oil traffic, which would prompt the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports. However, US actions will remain contingent on Iran's implementation of the deal.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards emphasized that the reopening of the strait depends on the US accepting Iran's conditions, rather than being tied to the Iran-Oman negotiations. The hostilities have led Iran to impose tolls on oil tankers and target ships attempting to transit the strait without permission, disrupting global energy shipments and contributing to rising energy prices and inflation.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
