Iran and Oman Reach Agreement on Proposed Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Wednesday that Iran and Oman finalized the geographic coordinates for a proposed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz after months of negotiations, with a joint statement covering technical, legal, security and environmental points still being drafted 12. Baghaei said the reopening of the strait still depends on the US ending its naval blockade of Iranian ports and halting attacks on Iranian infrastructure, and that the Oman agreement alone cannot guarantee safe passage 12. Iranian state media offered differing characterizations: one outlet described a "middle corridor" jointly controlled by Iran and Oman, and another said the talks are unrelated to the United States 2. President Trump said Tuesday that Hormuz negotiations were "moving along very nicely" and that the strait "is going to be open very soon, or they are going to get hit very hard" 123. Only eight vessels transited the strait Monday, compared with roughly 130 per day before the US-Israel war on Iran began in late February, and Brent crude stood at $79 a barrel Wednesday against $67 in February 13.