Iran Claims Agreement with Oman on New Shipping Route in Hormuz Strait

Iran has announced that it has reached an agreement with Oman on a new shipping route in the Hormuz Strait, which could potentially ease tensions in the region. However, the Iranian government has also stated that the strait is not yet fully secure due to the ongoing US naval blockade.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said that an agreement had been reached with Oman on the geographical coordinates of the new route, but did not provide further details. The new route is expected to be temporary and could be operational for two to four months.

The Hormuz Strait, which is a critical waterway for global oil trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since February, following a US-Israeli attack on the country. The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iran, which has led to a significant reduction in shipping traffic in the strait.

Iran has proposed a plan to charge a toll on ships passing through the strait, which has been met with resistance from the US. The Iranian government has proposed a toll of 5-7% of the value of goods being transported, while Oman has suggested a lower rate of around 3%. The US has opposed any toll, insisting that the strait should be free for all shipping traffic.

The proposed agreement would allow Iran to monitor and control ships passing through the strait, which has been a major point of contention between Iran and the US. The two countries have been engaged in a bitter dispute over the strait, with the US imposing sanctions on Iran and Iran responding with military action.

In June, Iran and the US had signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing tensions and reopening the Hormuz Strait, but the agreement was short-lived and fighting resumed soon after. The US has maintained a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have imposed a blockade on Saudi Arabian ports in the Red Sea.