KOR
▲ Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman are finalizing a draft 60-day interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 5th (local time).
Citing sources, the WSJ reported that Iran and Oman have agreed on key elements of a draft agreement to establish a new inbound shipping lane near Iranian territorial waters and an outbound lane near Omani waters, and have communicated this to the United States, Iran, and regional countries.
Esmaeil Baghai, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stated regarding the negotiations between Iran and Oman that "agreement has been reached on the geographical coordinates of the proposed routes," adding that a joint statement between the two countries is currently under review and in the final stages.
According to the draft agreement obtained by the WSJ, vessels entering the Strait of Hormuz will use the Iranian route in consultation with Iranian authorities, while ships exiting the strait will use the route within Omani waters in consultation with Omani authorities.
While Iran gains control over vessels entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, it is not allowed to levy tolls or service fees.
However, sources added that the exclusion of tolls or fees might not prevent Iran from receiving voluntary payments intended to cover security and search-and-rescue costs.
Meanwhile, according to a senior Iranian official cited by Reuters, Iran is demanding a fee equivalent to 5 to 7 percent of the value of cargo on ships using the strait.
Oman is also discussing a fee level of around 3 percent, but the United States does not want any fees to be imposed at all.
The official pointed out that while the agreement currently on the table includes provisions for Iran to have control over vessels entering the Persian Gulf, a major sticking point is what role Iran would play regarding ships heading in the opposite direction out of the gulf.
Reuters noted that some observers are adopting a cautious stance on expectations that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is imminent, as crucial issues remain unresolved.
The WSJ also pointed out that there is still a possibility that the agreement could fall through or fail to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, also drew a line, stating that "the agreement with Oman does not mean the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."
He emphasized that "opening the Strait of Hormuz requires specific conditions to be met, and related agreements must be made solely between Iran and Oman," adding that "no foreign interference will be tolerated."
If this agreement is successfully reached and officially announced, the United States and Iran plan to return to the negotiating table to discuss Iran's nuclear program and ways to ease economic sanctions.
The previous day, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that "the Strait of Hormuz will open soon" and that the announcement of an agreement to reopen the strait was imminent.
However, a Middle East source told U.S. CNN that the probability of Iran and Oman actually reaching an agreement by the 7th is "50-50."
This source noted that the Iranian delegation did not include hardline voices from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and that final approval from the IRGC regarding the details of the agreement would be necessary.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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