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Iran has rejected suggestions that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened after agreeing with Oman on a temporary maritime route, with Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi insisting that the strategic waterway remains closed from a military standpoint.
Speaking on a television programme on Tuesday night, Gharibabadi said the arrangement with Oman should not be interpreted as the reopening of the strait.
"The understanding between Iran and Oman does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
He also ruled out an immediate reopening, saying, "the Strait of Hormuz will not open tomorrow."
Gharibabadi said the new arrangement was intended to address concerns over maritime traffic and Iran's national security.
"For the past 58 years, ships have been passing through Omwaters, and Iran has suffered severe damage. The Strait of Hormuz is now a matter of Iran's national security, and fundamental changes must be made in the entry and exit routes."
Under the temporary arrangement, ships entering the Persian Gulf will travel through Iranian waters before using Omani territorial waters for the exit route, although vessels will pass through Iranian waters on both routes.
"Based on this understanding, the entry route to the Persian Gulf will be through Iranian waters and the exit route through Omani territorial waters, and in both routes, ships will pass through Iranian waters. This route is like a round-trip highway with a total width of about 7 miles," he noted.
The arrangement will remain temporary while Iran and Oman negotiate a permanent route.
"This route is temporary, and Iran and Oman must negotiate a new permanent route within 30 to 60 days to replace the previous maritime traffic plan," he added.
Gharibabadi reiterated Tehran's military position on the waterway.
"Militarily, the Strait of Hormuz is closed."
He said the agreement would apply only to commercial shipping and would exclude military vessels.
"According to the memorandum of understanding, no military vessels will be allowed to pass through, and only commercial vessels will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz."
Gharibabadi said negotiations with Oman over the shipping routes were being conducted through a joint working group involving several Iranian agencies and military bodies.
"The negotiations we are having are actually being held in the form of a joint working group in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ports and Maritime Organization [PMO], the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC], including the Navy and its deputy headquarters, as well as the General Staff of the Armed Forces are present," he said.
He said the armed forces played the leading role in determining the routes.
"The main guidance regarding the routes actually lies with military friends and the armed forces complex, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy are at the forefront of it."
According to Gharibabadi, the proposals agreed with Oman originated with Iran's armed forces and received backing from the agencies involved.
"The plans that we have discussed with Oman and have an understanding on are plans that have been presented by friends of the armed forces, and we all have a consensus on them. Therefore, these are negotiations in which all relevant agencies are present, and the discussions that have been held are supported and agreed upon by all parties," he said.
He added that determining shipping routes was a technical responsibility rather than a matter for the Foreign Ministry.
"The issues related to routes are technical issues. It is not within the competence of government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to determine where ships should go and where they should come from regarding routes; this issue is not really within our technical competence and naturally it is the duty of the armed forces to do their job in this regard, which they have done very well and with great care, and I must thank them," he said, according to
ISNA.
Gharibabadi's comments came as US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, local time, that the US Navy had informed him that all mines had either been removed or detonated from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump warned Iran against laying new mines in international waters, saying any such action would trigger an immediate US military response.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had been notified that any vessel involved in placing new mines in the strategic waterway would be "immediately and systematically destroyed."
The statement came as Trump's administration continued to apply both economic and military pressure on Tehran.
Gharibabadi also addressed the possibility of future negotiations with Washington, saying Iran's position had changed.
"The circumstances have changed, and if negotiations take place, they will not be like before."
Speaking on a television programme on Tuesday night, Gharibabadi said the arrangement with Oman should not be interpreted as the reopening of the strait.
"The understanding between Iran and Oman does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
He also ruled out an immediate reopening, saying, "the Strait of Hormuz will not open tomorrow."
Iran outlines new shipping route
Gharibabadi said the new arrangement was intended to address concerns over maritime traffic and Iran's national security.
"For the past 58 years, ships have been passing through Omwaters, and Iran has suffered severe damage. The Strait of Hormuz is now a matter of Iran's national security, and fundamental changes must be made in the entry and exit routes."
Under the temporary arrangement, ships entering the Persian Gulf will travel through Iranian waters before using Omani territorial waters for the exit route, although vessels will pass through Iranian waters on both routes.
"Based on this understanding, the entry route to the Persian Gulf will be through Iranian waters and the exit route through Omani territorial waters, and in both routes, ships will pass through Iranian waters. This route is like a round-trip highway with a total width of about 7 miles," he noted.
The arrangement will remain temporary while Iran and Oman negotiate a permanent route.
"This route is temporary, and Iran and Oman must negotiate a new permanent route within 30 to 60 days to replace the previous maritime traffic plan," he added.
Commercial vessels allowed, military ships barred
Gharibabadi reiterated Tehran's military position on the waterway.
"Militarily, the Strait of Hormuz is closed."
He said the agreement would apply only to commercial shipping and would exclude military vessels.
"According to the memorandum of understanding, no military vessels will be allowed to pass through, and only commercial vessels will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz."
Gharibabadi said negotiations with Oman over the shipping routes were being conducted through a joint working group involving several Iranian agencies and military bodies.
"The negotiations we are having are actually being held in the form of a joint working group in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ports and Maritime Organization [PMO], the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC], including the Navy and its deputy headquarters, as well as the General Staff of the Armed Forces are present," he said.
He said the armed forces played the leading role in determining the routes.
"The main guidance regarding the routes actually lies with military friends and the armed forces complex, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy are at the forefront of it."
According to Gharibabadi, the proposals agreed with Oman originated with Iran's armed forces and received backing from the agencies involved.
"The plans that we have discussed with Oman and have an understanding on are plans that have been presented by friends of the armed forces, and we all have a consensus on them. Therefore, these are negotiations in which all relevant agencies are present, and the discussions that have been held are supported and agreed upon by all parties," he said.
He added that determining shipping routes was a technical responsibility rather than a matter for the Foreign Ministry.
"The issues related to routes are technical issues. It is not within the competence of government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to determine where ships should go and where they should come from regarding routes; this issue is not really within our technical competence and naturally it is the duty of the armed forces to do their job in this regard, which they have done very well and with great care, and I must thank them," he said, according to
Trump warns Iran over mines
Gharibabadi's comments came as US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, local time, that the US Navy had informed him that all mines had either been removed or detonated from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump warned Iran against laying new mines in international waters, saying any such action would trigger an immediate US military response.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had been notified that any vessel involved in placing new mines in the strategic waterway would be "immediately and systematically destroyed."
The statement came as Trump's administration continued to apply both economic and military pressure on Tehran.
Gharibabadi also addressed the possibility of future negotiations with Washington, saying Iran's position had changed.
"The circumstances have changed, and if negotiations take place, they will not be like before."
