Oman and Iran announced the establishment of a joint working team to draft an operational framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, following discussions held in Muscat on Tuesday.
The meetings brought together high-level delegations. On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi participated. They met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi during the visit.
During the talks, Oman expressed its support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran and underscored the importance of continued dialogue to ensure the MoU's implementation. Both countries reiterated their intention to cooperate to keep channels of communication open as the next steps are developed.
The two nations - which both have coastlines on the Strait of Hormuz - reaffirmed their shared responsibility for ensuring safe passage through the waterway in line with international law, while also stressing their sovereign rights over territorial waters.
According to the agreement, the joint working team will focus on reaching understandings on several specific elements: the management of future navigation, the suite of services to be provided to vessels transiting the strait, and the associated costs. The parties said these matters should be settled on the basis of international standards.
Both Iran and Oman also agreed to engage with other coastal states in the region and other relevant parties as part of the process, indicating that the working team’s outputs will be discussed more broadly prior to finalization.
In a joint statement, the two sides emphasized that any arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz must respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of both countries. They renewed their commitment to keeping the strait open for international navigation and highlighted the importance of cooperation aimed at improving maritime safety, protecting freedom of navigation, and supporting regional stability.
Note: The article summarizes the agreements and statements made by the two governments during the Muscat talks. It reflects the topics the joint working team will address and the diplomatic commitments that were reiterated.