TEHRAN: An Iranian source familiar with the ongoing talks between Iran and Oman has claimed that US interference and military threats are the main reasons a new agreement on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has not yet been finalized.
The source, speaking to Iran’s Sepah News, said Tehran would not sign any agreement while facing pressure from Washington. According to the source, the negotiations will remain delayed as long as the United States continues what Iran describes as a policy of threats and possible military action, according to Tasnim News Agency.
The comments come as Iran and Oman continue discussions on a proposed framework for managing maritime traffic through one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to global markets, and a significant share of the world’s energy supplies passes through the narrow waterway every day.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has said the talks are aimed at creating safer shipping routes while protecting the sovereignty and security interests of both countries. Iranian officials insist that any arrangement must fully respect Iran’s national rights and authority in the strategic waterway.
Sources familiar with the negotiations say the proposed plan could give Iran greater oversight of vessels entering the Persian Gulf through a shipping lane under Iranian control. Outbound traffic would reportedly use a lane managed jointly with Oman, with final exit clearance issued by Omani authorities after informing Tehran.
The discussions are also said to include the creation of a new “middle corridor” through the strait, replacing the current northern and southern shipping routes. The proposal may involve security and environmental service fees and could be linked to the possible easing of US restrictions affecting Iranian ports.
Neither Oman nor the United States has publicly responded to the latest Iranian claims.
The negotiations remain sensitive because the Strait of Hormuz has long been at the center of regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Gulf Arab states. Any change in the management of shipping routes could have significant implications for international trade, energy markets and security in the Middle East.
