Iran, Oman agree to reopen Strait of Hormuz with temporary corridor and mine-clearing project

Iran and Oman have agreed on a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, including the establishment of a temporary joint maritime corridor and a joint mine-clearing project within the waterway.

Iran's Foreign Ministry announced the agreement Tuesday (local time) in a joint Iran-Oman statement. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who made a working visit to Iran that day, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran to discuss measures for safe navigation and management of the strait.

According to the statement, the two ministers agreed on the importance of resuming safe maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz while preserving each country's sovereignty and sovereign rights. They focused on discussing a practical and actionable "phased framework" in light of conditions in the strait created by the recent war and its devastating aftermath.

The phased framework proposed by both sides includes opening a temporary joint maritime corridor through the strait and jointly undertaking mine-clearing operations there. Mines laid by Iran in the center of the strait have forced vessels to hug either the Iranian territorial waters or the Omani side. The core of the agreement is to clear those mines and establish a jointly managed corridor to facilitate passage.

The two countries plan to continue working-level technical negotiations toward agreements on building a permanent maritime corridor, long-term management of the strait, information-sharing systems, maritime traffic management, and the provision of related maritime and security services.