Iran and Oman have agreed to establish a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate the movement of commercial vessels, while Tehran maintained that the strategic waterway has not been fully reopened.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the arrangement would allow inbound commercial vessels to pass through Iranian waters, while outbound ships would use both Iranian and Omani waters.
He stressed that military vessels would not be allowed to use the corridor, adding that the agreement should not be interpreted as an immediate or complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Gharibabadi, the temporary arrangement will remain in effect as Iran and Oman negotiate a permanent framework expected to take between 30 and 60 days. He warned that the strait could remain closed if Iran’s conditions are not met.
Gharibabadi also rejected claims by the United States that mines in the international waters of the strait had been cleared or detonated, describing the assertions as propaganda. He warned that any U.S. minesweepers entering the area could be targeted.
His comments followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said on Tuesday that mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz had either been removed or detonated. Trump also warned that any vessel laying new mines would be destroyed.
The temporary corridor is part of a broader framework discussed by Iran and Oman, according to a joint statement by the two countries’ foreign ministries. They also agreed to pursue a joint project aimed at clearing mines from the waterway.
The understanding followed a visit to Tehran by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who held talks with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most important energy and maritime chokepoints.
The agreement could offer some relief to commercial shipping, but major questions remain over security arrangements, military access and the prospects of a full reopening.
For now, Iran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz will only be fully reopened once its conditions are implemented and negotiations with Oman produce a permanent shipping arrangement.
