Iran is working seriously on a draft plan to establish a maritime route with Oman, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
The spokesman noted the process is taking longer than expected because of the complex security situation caused by the actions of the United States and Israel, as well as interference and obstructive factors from various parties.
Baghaei also addressed Iran-U.S. relations, saying the main issue is not the lack of mediators. Countries such as Pakistan and Qatar have been fulfilling their roles diligently, while some European nations have expressed their views and willingness to mediate in bilateral discussions, but this does not mean a new mediator has emerged or been accepted in the Iran-U.S. process, he said.
The spokesman added that Iran's memorandum of understanding with the United States does not mention a "60-day deadline" and stressed that Iran does not make policy decisions under pressure, ultimatums, or time constraints, he said. All decisions are made solely based on an assessment of national interests and security, he emphasized.
He said that the issue of a 60-day deadline has lost its significance, as the talks did not start a few weeks after the memorandum was signed on June 28, due to the U.S. openly violating the agreement.
Iran drafting maritime route plan with Oman: FM spokesman
With the fishing season kicking off on Sunday at the end of an annual fishing moratorium, fleets of fishing vessels set sail from Zhuhai in south China's Guangdong Province, while a grand seafood festival drew hungry tourists from across China, including the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, to sample the freshest catches of the year.
Over 100 fishing boats departed in an orderly fashion from the Hongwan Central Fishing Port after the summer fishing ban was lifted on the South China Sea. Prior to departure, fishermen had completed ice resupply, net repairs and refueling. Fishery administration and maritime authorities carried out safety inspections, while border inspection departments streamlined customs procedures to facilitate smooth clearance for navigation of fishing vessels between Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.
A seafood festival was held on the same day, drawing large numbers of out-of-town visitors who made special trips to sample the fresh seafood.
"[My relatives] have settled here and brought me here. The weather is hot, and the atmosphere is even hotter!" said a tourist coming from Changsha, the provincial capital city of central China's Hunan Province which neighbors Guangdong.
"The vibe here is fantastic. A lot of people from Hong Kong and Macao come over. I could tell because the parking lot was completely full," said a tourist from Macao.
According to statistics, this year's fishing ban involved 927 Zhuhai-registered fishing vessels and 569 Hong Kong-Macao mobile fishing vessels. By Aug 16, nearly 1,000 vessels had cast off their moorings and set sail from Zhuhai, ushering in a new season of fishing.
The annual seasonal ban, which ran from May 1 to August 16, is intended to protect fishery stocks by restricting commercial fishing across designated waters in the South China Sea.
Fishing season in south China's Guangdong draws crowds of seafood fans
