IRAN and Oman have reached an understanding on the outlines of an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, according to reports on Thursday.
Saudi-based Al Hadath news channel and Al Arabiya news channel reported high-ranking sources as saying the deal still needs approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council but could be announced within days.
The deal reportedly means any vessels entering the strait must use a route close to Iran, while those leaving will take one close to Oman.
No transit fees or service charges will be imposed, and regional parties may participate in demining and technical procedures, the sources said.
According to the sources, following the agreement’s approval, the US and Iran will return to talks over the section of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the two sides in June that deals with the reopening and safe navigation of commercial shipping through the strait.
Indirect contacts between Iran and the US have been maintained through mediators and have entered their final stage, the sources added.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told journalists on Wednesday that talks with Oman were moving forward, but that even if an understanding was reached, it would not mean the strait had become safe for all passing vessels.
He said: “The factors making the Strait of Hormuz insecure still exist on the part of the US.”
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted Tehran is keen on a deal for reopening the strait, which the Iranians deny.
Tehran said it would instead make arrangements with its neighbour across the strait, Oman.
President Trump stressed on Thursday that the US has “massive” amounts of munitions and has threatened the Iranians that this is their last chance for a deal.
This came one day after a CNN report claiming the US is suffering a critical shortage of weapons.
But, in a social media post, President Trump claimed, without evidence, that “large amounts [of weapons] are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed. Defence companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history.”
At the same time, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that 50 per cent of respondents said they thought US military action in Iran would destabilise the Middle East over the next year.
Some 58 per cent of those polled said they expected gas prices to worsen, while just 15 per cent expected them to improve, Reuters reported on Thursday.
