Iran and Oman Agree on New Strait of Hormuz Route, Deny Talks With US

[Anchor]

Iran has reached an agreement with Oman on the coordinates for a new safe shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. However, it drew a line, clarifying that this does not mean the strait will be fully opened.

Reporter Jeong Banseok has the details.

[Reporter]

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that it has agreed with Oman on the coordinates of safe routes for commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that an agreement has been reached on the geographical coordinates of the routes and that a joint statement between the two countries is in the final stages.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, noted that a significant portion of the route passes through Iranian territorial waters, drawing a line to emphasize that the agreement with Oman does not mean the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

He also acknowledged that the United States had sent messages requesting negotiations, but maintained that no negotiations have been held with the US recently.

Previously, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that an agreement on opening the Strait of Hormuz could be reached soon and that direct negotiations were underway with Iran.

[Scott Bessent / US Treasury Secretary: We are in negotiations with Iran. I think there is a possibility that an agreement could be reached today or tomorrow to open the strait and move forward to a better place.]

Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, continued their show of force by launching successive attacks on Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

[Yahya Saree / Houthi Military Spokesperson: We successfully targeted the Saudi oil tanker Wafa off the coast of Yanbu in the northern Red Sea with multiple ballistic missiles.]

Contrary to the US assertions, Iran's denial of negotiations leaves the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz uncertain.

(Video Editing: Choi Jin-hwa, Design: Kim Na-mi, Shim Su-hyun)

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