Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi stated on 8 August that Iran and Oman were “very close” to reaching an agreement on a new route through the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, Arakchi also said that Tehran would set conditions for the agreement, in particular compensation for what he described as US breaches of the agreement between Iran and the United States, brokered by Pakistan earlier this year.
There has been no comment from US officials as yet.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump stated that, in his view, Iran would no longer be able to tolerate the conflict, and that negotiations with Tehran on opening the Strait of Hormuz were continuing.
Iranian officials have countered that talks with Washington are taking place, whilst Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bakai indicated that Tehran and Muscat had almost finalised a joint statement, “provided that certain third parties do not obstruct the process”.
The blockade of the strait has long been one of the central issues in the conflict between the United States and Iran and one of the main obstacles to a negotiated settlement aimed at ending the wider conflict in the Middle East.