Iran says agreement reached with Oman on map of new route in Hormuz

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday Iran and Oman have agreed on the map of the new route for maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran while elaborating on the latest progress of negotiations between Iran and Oman on the designation of a safe route for passage through the strait.

Baghaei said the two countries are supposed to finalize the agreement in the form of a package comprising the map and a joint statement.

He attributed the protraction of the process to the issue's complexity, "the number of the players" seeking to influence the process, and "attempts by certain malicious parties." Baghaei said Tehran and Muscat are continuing the talks with seriousness, and exchanging their views on the joint statement's text, adding that both sides want to develop a mechanism capable of safeguarding their interests, addressing their concerns and taking into account considerations regarding international shipping.

Commenting on the Iran-US memorandum of understanding signed on June 18, Baghaei said that under the deal, the two countries were scheduled to hold negotiations on Tehran's nuclear issue and the removal of sanctions within a 60-day period, which ends on Monday.

However, the negotiations never started, which he blamed on the US's "flagrant and extensive violations" of the deal.

Tehran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.