Iran and Oman held several rounds of talks in Tehran on Friday and Saturday over the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides making tangible progress, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday.
Both sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the common principles and specific operational mechanisms for ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, based on respect for the sovereign rights of the two coastal states, according to Baghaei.
He described the talks as productive with certain progress achieved, adding that the two sides will maintain consultations at both technical and political levels after the Omani delegation left Tehran on Saturday afternoon.
Baghaei also said that the current navigation status of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged.
The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that there are very few ships actually sailing across the narrow waterway, following renewed attacks on vessels since hostilities resumed on July 12 and 13, and there are at least 6,000 seafarers on hundreds of vessels stranded in the Strait.
Iran affirms progress in talks with Oman on Hormuz Strait
A massive wildfire raging in southwestern France has pushed perilously close to the city of Bordeaux, forcing a record 217,000 residents across the country to flee their homes by Saturday as flames continue to devour vast swaths of forestland.
The fire continues to rage fiercely, with Bordeaux's surrounding woodland reduced to charred remains. The air is thick with heavy smoke, making breathing difficult and posing constant re-ignition risks.
At the Bordeaux Exhibition Center in the city center, the largest temporary shelter for the evacuees, more than 6,000 people have been relocated to the hall spanning over 10,000 square meters.
As the density is extremely high, and ventilation is far from ideal, most people had to rest or sleep on simple camp beds or directly on the floor.
"I live in Le Haillan, about 10 kilometers from here. Last night the smoke was so thick, and the entire sky turned red. We left in a hurry. I even picked up my neighbor, who is 97 years old. We only brought the bare essentials with us. We've never lived through a war, but now we're living through a forest fire," said a local resident.
"I didn't bring much, just my mother's medication and some books for the children. Honestly, we're worried. It's really concerning. Fires are breaking out everywhere in France right now. Everyone is afraid. The situation is unsettling," said another resident.
Since the start of summer, France has been battling an unprecedented wave of forest fires, with total burned area across the country approaching 100,000 hectares. The largest and most destructive blaze is located in the Gironde, where fire has already consumed 40,000 hectares of land as of Saturday.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Emmanuel Macron has ordered 1,500 military personnel to deploy to the fire zones to support firefighting and rescue efforts.
Thousands take shelter at Bordeaux exhibition center as wildfire rages on
