Iran’s Pezeshkian signals Hormuz passage deal ahead of Muscat talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his counterparts from Arab countries in the region will meet in Oman’s capital, Muscat, on September 14 to discuss a framework agreement on passage through the Strait of Hormuz and maritime navigation, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said.

In an interview with India Today, Pezeshkian noted that Tehran had already held talks with Oman and reached an agreement on specific arrangements for maritime navigation.

“Foreign ministers of the Arab countries of the region will meet in Oman on Monday to agree on a route through the Strait of Hormuz and inform the International Maritime Organization of the agreement reached. Under this arrangement, the route will be opened in accordance with international law if the United States stops its attacks. Iran is ready to cooperate with neighboring countries to ensure regional security and expand economic ties,” Pezeshkian stressed.

In a separate interview with Al Araby Al Jadeed, Araghchi said that the main topic of the meeting in Oman would be a new maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We will present the participating countries with details of the agreement reached with Oman, as well as maps of the new route. The agreement with the Sultanate of Oman in no way means the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s condition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz is for the United States to return to fulfilling its obligations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. 

Iran believes that responsibility for ensuring security and stability in the region rests exclusively with the countries of the region. We hope these talks will pave the way for further consultations on issues of concern to the countries of the region,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, Bahrain is the only country in the region to have so far announced that it will not participate in the meeting in Oman.

By Jeyhun Aghazada