Oman deal in final stages

CONDITIONS APPLY | US must act to open Hormuz, says Iran

Until the violations of the MoU by the US are ended and Washington does not make amends for what it has violated, there is no possibi­lity of resuming negotiations. 

Abbas Araghchi

Iran’s Foreign Minister

DUBAI: Iran said on Sunday a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stages but reiterated that the waterway would only reopen once the US met other conditions, Reuters reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday a strait agreement that lies between the two countries was in the “final stages” but reiterated comments made on Saturday it would not reopen it unless other conditions were met.

NO TALKS WITH US RIGHT NOW: MINISTER

Araghchi said there are currently no ongoing negotiations with the US. 

“We currently have no negotiations with the US. Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations. From our perspective, there can be no resumption of talks until the US ends its violations of the MoU and makes amends for the breaches it has committed,” Aragchi said.

Experts were working on new routes which would replace the old ones, he said.

“It does not mean the opening of the strait. The agreement may be reached, but the reopening is subject to conditions,” he emphasised.

WILL FOLLOW PEACE PATH IF US BUILDS TRUST: PEZESHKIAN

President Masoud Peze­shkian said Iran would keep pursuing the path of peace, provided Washington helps build an atmosphere of trust. He said. “Now is the best time to reach an agreement, as there is solidarity, power and unity in the country.”

“We are determined to use the MoU as the basis provided the US lets go of the atmosphere of distrust it has created, and an atmosphere of trust is formed,” he said.

IRAN HAS NO TOLL PLANS TOLL: JD

US Vice President JD Vance has claimed Iran has told the Washington it has “no plans to toll the Strait of Hormuz”. However, he clarified the US would wait and watch instead of believing on Tehran’s words.

“Our expectation is you're going to see the same amount of oil and gas come out of the Gulf that you saw before the conflict started. That is what the Iranians have told us they are going to do. That's what the entire Gulf coalition wants to do as well. But, you know, we don't trust, we verify. We actually look not at people's words, but people's deeds,” Vance told Fox News. 

About safe strait traffic, Vance shared one problem the Gulf faces: mines laid by Iran, and the demining. “The ships should pass safely. That incl­udes demining.”

—Agencies