Iran and Oman on Tuesday discussed a proposal to establish a temporary joint shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz and a mission to clear mines from the key oil export corridor.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Saeed Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi said he expected the corridor through Hormuz to be completed and “practical arrangements to restore safe navigation” to be announced soon. He said his talks with Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Aragushi in Tehran were constructive.
“Future management of the strait and a durable solution will emerge in due course,” Oman’s foreign minister said in a social media post. “Consultations with regional partners will take place to support peace, cooperation, stability and freedom of navigation.”
Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a social media post after the diplomatic meeting that the proposed framework with Iran includes a joint project to clear mines in the strait. The ministry said Muscat and Iran will continue talks to reach an agreement on a permanent corridor and management system for the strait.
Oman’s reference to a mine-clearing mission appears to contradict President Donald Trump’s statement Tuesday that the U.S. Navy has notified Hormuz that all mines have been cleared from international waters.
The talks between Oman and Iran came a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would sanction any companies doing business with the Islamic Republic. President Trump threatened to bomb Oman earlier this month when Fox News asked him about talks between Muscat and Tehran regarding Hormuz.
Iran and Oman are holding talks based on the provisions of a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Tehran on June 17. The interim agreement states that Iran and Oman will hold talks in Hormuz to “define future administrative and maritime services.”
However, the memorandum soon fell apart as the United States and Iran began to quarrel over the shipping route. The U.S. military is protecting ships using the southern sea route off the coast of Oman. U.S. Central Command said more than 660 million barrels of crude oil had leaked from Hormuz under its protection since May.
Iran requires ships to use the northern passage through its territorial waters to transit the strait or risk attack.
An oil tanker was struck and disabled by an unknown projectile near Oman on Monday, according to an accident report from the British Maritime Trade Operations Center. Last week, two cargo ships were attacked in Hormuz, killing two sailors.
