Iran and Oman on Tuesday discussed a proposal to establish a temporary joint shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz as well as a mission to clear mines from the key oil export corridor.
Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, said he was hopeful a corridor through Hormuz and “practical arrangements to restore safe navigation” will be announced soon. He described talks with Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran as constructive.
“Future management of the Strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course,” Oman’s foreign minister said in a social media post. “Discussions with regional partners will be conducted in support of peace and cooperation, stability and freedom of navigation.”
The proposed framework with Iran includes a joint project to clear the strait of mines, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said in a social media post after the diplomats’ meeting. Muscat and Tehran would continue talks to reach an agreement on a permanent corridor and administration system for the strait, the ministry said.
Oman’s reference to a mine-clearing mission appeared to contradict President Donald Trump’s statement earlier Tuesday that the U.S. Navy informed him all mines had been removed from international waters in Hormuz.
Oman’s discussions with Iran come a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. will sanction any entity that does business with the Islamic Republic. Trump threatened to bomb Oman earlier this month when Fox News asked him about Muscat’s talks with Tehran on Hormuz.
Iran and Oman are holding discussions under a provision in the memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran on June 17. The interim deal said Iran and Oman would hold talks to “define the future administration and maritime services” in Hormuz.
But the MOU quickly collapsed as the U.S. and Iran started fighting over shipping lanes. The U.S. military protects ships that use a southern route along Oman’s coast. U.S. Central Command has said more than 660 million barrels of crude oil have exited Hormuz under its protection since May.
Iran demands that ships use a northern route through its territorial waters to transit the strait or risk coming under attack.
An oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile and disabled near Oman on Monday, according to an incident report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre. Two cargo ships came under attack in Hormuz last week resulting in the deaths of two sailors.
