Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Garibabadi, stated that Tehran had rejected Oman’s proposal to divide the transit routes between the two countries in the Strait of Hormuz equally, a maritime artery that has become a key focal point in the conflict with the United States.
In an interview with Iranian state television on 28 July, Garibabadi said that Oman’s proposal involved establishing a route that would be controlled 50 per cent by Iran and 50 per cent by Oman, which lies on the other, southern shore of the strait.
“We have said that this does not solve Iran’s problems,” said the Iranian representative, adding that Tehran “has no plans to negotiate with the US” on this issue.
He added that the Strait of Hormuz “will never return to its pre-war state”, and if it does, Iran’s “success” in the war would be “incomplete”.
Earlier, Reuters quoted a well-informed source as saying that Oman had put forward a proposal to Iran to establish a joint regional mechanism, funded by voluntary contributions, to manage the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas transit passed before the war.
According to the source, Oman’s proposal has the support of countries in the region.
Garibabadi said that Iran is proposing to manage shipping through its side of the strait, whilst Oman would manage part (but not all) of its side of the waterway. Oman has not confirmed such a proposal.