Iran, Oman reach understanding on temporary shipping route in Hormuz, US declares all mines cleared

Iran said on Tuesday that it has reached a new understanding with Oman allowing commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. President Donald Trump declared that all mines in the strait's international waters had been removed or detonated.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday that under the understanding, the inbound route to the Persian Gulf would pass through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would pass through both Iranian and Omani waters.

No military vessels will be permitted, and only commercial ships will be allowed to transit, he added.

Gharibabadi stressed that the understanding reached between Iran and Oman does not mean an immediate reopening of the strait, and that the route would be temporary.

He said Iran and Oman would negotiate a new permanent route within 30 to 60 days, and warned that the strait will remain closed if Iran's conditions are not met.

Gharibabadi also dismissed the U.S. claims about mine-clearing operations in the strait as propaganda and lies, warning that any U.S. minesweepers entering the region would be targeted.

Trump said earlier on Tuesday that all mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz have been removed or detonated, warning that any vessel placing new mines would be destroyed.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that there is a zero tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect.

Iran and Oman on Tuesday exchanged views on a phased framework that includes the establishment of a temporary joint shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz and an agreement to implement a joint project to demine the waterway, according to a joint statement issued by the two countries' foreign ministries.

The statement was issued at the end of a visit by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to Tehran, where he met his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Iran, Oman reach understanding on temporary shipping route in Hormuz, US declares all mines cleared

Iran has sought to convey its stance and negotiating conditions regarding the Strait of Hormuz to the United States through Pakistan, said a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, cited by Tasnim News Agency on Tuesday.

At a meeting with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Monday, Iran reportedly outlined its conditions for negotiations on the strategic waterway, emphasizing that the United States must adhere to a previously agreed memorandum of understanding (MoU) and fulfill its provisions concerning the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan is reportedly tasked with delivering these conditions to the United States.

Sources in Pakistan revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with General Munir prior to his visit to Iran, urging Pakistan to encourage Iran to return to negotiations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in his meeting with Munir on Monday that the United States must change its tone and approach toward Iran, and its reliance on coercion and bullying will only complicate executive processes, said a statement published on the website of the presidential office.

On Tuesday, Pakistan announced the conclusion of one-day visit to Iran by General Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Naqvi noted that significant progress was made in talks, which focused on preventing further escalation of the U.S.-Iran conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reaching an immediate end to the conflict, and regional peace and a negotiated settlement of disputes.

On June 18, the United States and Iran signed the MoU, under which the two were scheduled to hold negotiations within a period of 60 days, which ended on Aug. 17, to reach a final agreement. However, the talks' fate remains unclear following renewed escalation between the two countries.

Iran conveys negotiating conditions on Strait of Hormuz to US via Pakistan