Muscat: Iran and Oman held key talks in Muscat on Saturday over the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising regional tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to discuss the possibility of at least partially reopening the strategically vital waterway. Qatari officials also took part in the discussions. According to reports, Oman presented Iran with a proposal for managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
What is Oman’s Hormuz Plan?
According to reports, citing sources, Oman has proposed that traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz be routed through two controlled routes, one near the Iranian coast and the other closer to Oman. It stated that each country will manage its own route. The source also stated that no tolls will be charged on either route.
Where will the proposal be discussed?
During the talks, Oman proposed that both the southern route in Oman’s waters and the northern route in Iranian waters remain fully operational. According to reports, the Iranian side could not agree to this proposal at the meeting and had to take it to Tehran for internal discussion.
No US official was present at the meeting. According to reports, an unnamed US official said that US teams would not be present in Oman, but they would remain in contact with Omani and Qatari officials. Earlier on Friday, reports emerged that Iranian officials had privately acknowledged that the firing on ships in the Strait of Hormuz was a mistake. Iran had expressed its willingness to continue negotiations.
