Tehran is nearing an agreement with Muscat regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Hassan Qashqavi, spokesperson for Iran's National Security Committee of the Parliament, announced on 2/8. He confirmed that intermediaries are working to restore a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously described negotiations between Tehran and Muscat as having entered the "final stage". A report submitted to the Iranian cabinet also indicated that talks with Oman were "nearing completion".

Cargo ships anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on 30/6. *Photo: AP*.

Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, asserted that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-conflict state. He clarified that recent talks with Oman will not determine whether this shipping lane is "closed or open". Baghaei emphasized that the congestion in Hormuz is a consequence of "US sabotage and a naval blockade targeting Iran".

Tehran and Muscat are working towards agreeing on a new, mutually acceptable shipping route through Hormuz. This route would be neither northern nor southern, but would ensure the sovereign rights, national interests, and security of both countries. These bilateral discussions primarily aim to establish a "mechanism to guarantee Iran's interests" and have been ongoing for a long time. Baghaei stressed that Iran will act based on its interests and concerns, and will not alter its stance due to external pressure or threats.

This information was released hours after President Donald Trump announced that a new round of negotiations between the US and Iran was about to begin. Trump asserted that there would be an agreement on Hormuz and Tehran's nuclear program. "Iran knows the scale of the attack because they saw everything being prepared at the time. What we are doing is engaging with them in the form of negotiations. The negotiations will begin tomorrow afternoon, and we will wait to see the outcome," President Trump told reporters on Air Force One on 2/8.

Shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. *Graphic: Guardian*.

Regarding information reported by Israeli media that Foreign Minister Araghchi had agreed to a US-Qatar brokered deal to divide control of the Strait of Hormuz, Fars News agency, which is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), quoted a negotiation team member as saying that it was "completely false". Fars also quoted an Iranian military source asserting that this strategic shipping lane remains closed to all vessels not coordinating with the IRGC.

Thanh Danh (*According to AFP, Al Jazeera*)