Iran's official Tasnim news agency denied a report by the outlet 'Pixius' that claimed the existence of an international shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the strait lies solely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
Iran's official Tasnim news agency issued a statement Saturday evening denying a report by the outlet 'Pixius' that claimed the existence of an 'international route' in the Strait of Hormuz. Tasnim called the report false and reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz lies solely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
The denial comes hours after a flurry of reports from Muscat about talks to reopen the Strait's middle passage. At 17:19 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Qatari officials had joined Iran-Oman talks, and that a joint statement was being discussed. Subsequent updates noted that a senior Iranian source told Tasnim that management of the strait is the exclusive responsibility of Iran and Oman, and that Qatar's role is limited to mediation. The denial of the Pixius report is consistent with that position.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Iranian officials making similar assertions, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's statement in June that the strait is 'a shared maritime route between Iran and Oman.' The Iranian position that the Strait is not an international waterway has been a recurring theme in the context of the ongoing blockade and diplomatic efforts.
It remains unclear whether the denial signals a hardening of Iran's position or a rejection of a specific unverified report. The extent of the blockade enforcement and the outcome of the Muscat talks also remain open questions.
6 developments
- DevelopingIranian FM: Strait of Hormuz is not international waters, but a shared maritime route with Oman
- StrongIranian outlets claim Strait of Hormuz remains closed, contradicting US denials
- StrongIranian state media calls on foreign ministry to close Strait of Hormuz over Israel's Lebanon presence
- DevelopingIran's Tasnim news agency confirms clashes with US Navy in Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Internal intake