Iran and Oman have agreed on a geographic shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant step toward a temporary agreement aimed at reopening the vital waterway, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.
Baghaei said the two sides are working to finalize a joint statement, provided no “third party” interferes in the process. The proposed agreement is intended to restore commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz while addressing some of Iran’s demands regarding oversight of maritime traffic.
A senior Gulf official told CNN there is a “50-50” chance a provisional agreement could be reached by Friday. However, the official noted that Iran’s delegation does not include representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, whose approval will ultimately be required before any deal can take effect.
In what appeared to be a goodwill gesture, the United States lifted sanctions on two aircraft and three airlines linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as negotiations continued.
President Trump said earlier Wednesday that “we’ll know within 48 hours” whether an agreement is reached, adding that “things are moving nicely.” In an interview with Fox News, Trump warned that the Strait of Hormuz “will open soon, or they will be hit hard, and then it will open,” adding that Iran would face severe consequences if it walked away from the negotiations.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
