Iran, Oman discuss temporary shipping lane through Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman’s top diplomats have discussed a proposed framework for a temporary transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and a mine-clearing project in the key waterway, which they both border.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss future plans for the strait.

The two “discussed a phased framework that could provide a practical and implementable basis for moving forward”, they said in a joint statement shared by Oman.

The strait became a flashpoint early in the Middle East war, and the two countries have recently sought to hammer out a plan to regulate transit through it, as laid out in a June US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.

“The proposed framework includes the establishment of a temporary joint navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and an agreement to implement a joint project to clear the Strait of mines,” the statement said.

“Technical negotiations between the two sides will also continue with the aim of reaching an agreement on a permanent navigation corridor and future arrangements for managing the Strait, alongside establishing a mechanism for exchanging information, managing navigation traffic, and providing related navigational and security services,” it added.

Albusaidi said in a post on X after the meeting that he hoped the countries would “soon announce” the temporary corridor in the strait.

“Future management of the strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course,” he said.