Oman, Iran reach understanding about temporary Hormuz shipping route

The top diplomats of Oman and Iran met Tuesday amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and reached an understanding that allows commercial vessels to transit. The Iranian deputy foreign minister says they would negotiate an alternative permanent maritime route within 30 to 60 days.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi was welcomed by his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi at a high-stakes meeting in Tehran as discussions are underway between the two countries that bracket the Hormuz strait over the new joint shipping corridor.

According to a joint statement, the officials both stressed the significance to hold joint talks with nations overlooking Gulf waters, and exchanged views on an agreement to implement a joint project to demine the waterway.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi points out what he calls a "fundamental change" compared with the past, claiming they have almost reached an understanding that the inbound route into the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman will lie entirely within Iranian territorial waters.

The outbound route will also pass partly through Iranian territorial waters, with the remainder in Omani territorial waters. He furthers the understanding reached between Iran and Oman does not mean an immediate reopening of the strait and that the route will be "temporary."

Regional officials say US President Donald Trump is displeased that Oman is close to deal with Iran to manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, stepping up new threats to bomb Oman and destroy any vessel placing new mines in the waterway.

To this, Gharibabadi responds by saying any US minesweepers entering the region will be targeted.An Axios report indicates US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told some of his foreign counterparts lately that Washington is not expected to launch new strikes against Iran "for the time being."

At the same time, Qatari officials that contact with the United States and Iran are still making efforts to bring the two sides back to negotiations.

The Gulf state's Foreign Ministry spokesman highlights on Tuesday that reaching diplomatic solutions through talks with Iran and Israel remains a priority.

He says in a weekly briefing from Doha that the parties' full engagement in the talks and mediation spearheaded by Qatar, Pakistan, and other regional partners, is the "only way out of this crisis."