Iran and Oman agreed to continue technical and political discussions regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's official news agency reported early Sunday. The talks in Muscat aim to ensure safe passage and freedom of maritime movement in the strategic waterway, according to the agency.
Oman's official news agency confirmed Saturday evening that Iran and Oman agreed to continue technical and political discussions on the Strait of Hormuz, after all mediator delegations, including Iranian and Qatari representatives, departed Muscat. The state news agency reported the agreement to extend the dialogue, following a day of intensive diplomacy in the Omani capital.
The talks unfolded over several hours Saturday. At 19:21 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported (version 1) that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart and discussed navigation safety under the Islamabad MOU. By version 6, Omani officials claimed an understanding had been reached on free passage through the Strait, but Iran did not confirm that claim. Then in version 7, Oman said the two sides agreed to continue contacts. The confirmation in version 8, with mediators having left, solidifies the agreement to continue talks but leaves the question of free passage unresolved.
The Zioneer reported earlier Saturday that Iran initiated the Muscat talks (17:26 Jerusalem, 18:13 Jerusalem). The US had set a weekend ultimatum for an agreement on Hormuz shipping (version 5). This builds on the US demand for Iran to publicly declare the Strait open (The Zioneer, Jul 11, 04:21 Jerusalem) and the earlier US-Iran agreement on direct communications in June (Jun 22, 09:46 Jerusalem).
The outcome of the talks remains unclear. The Omani state news report is the sole source for the agreement to continue talks; Iran has not issued a separate confirmation. The US ultimatum deadline has passed without a public declaration from Iran. It is not yet known whether the next round of talks will produce a concrete arrangement for navigation.
9 developments
- StrongIran initiates Muscat talks on Strait of Hormuz passage, Al Arabiya reports
- StrongIran says it will hold talks with Oman to set fees for Strait of Hormuz passage
- DevelopingIran and Oman reiterate sovereign rights over territorial waters in Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingIran and Oman announce joint management company for Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Internal intake