Iran says a proposed framework being developed with Oman would introduce new shipping routes through the strait of Hormuz and close the current southern route along the Omani coast.
Deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi told state television late on 25 August that the interim arrangement would route vessels entering the Mideast Gulf through Iranian waters, while the outbound leg would pass through both Iranian and Omani territorial waters.
"The southern lane will be closed," Gharibabadi said, without giving a timeframe. The replacement route would be temporary, with Iran and Oman then holding talks "on a new permanent route within 30-60 days", he said.
His comments followed a joint Iranian-Omani statement outlining the framework for managing traffic through Hormuz, which would also include a joint mine-clearance project.
"Technical negotiations will continue with the aim of reaching an agreement on a permanent maritime corridor, the future administration of the strait, as well as mechanisms for information exchange, traffic management and the provision of maritime security services," the statement said.
Gharibabadi said the talks were intended to establish "new routes and new corridors" to replace those used for the past 58 years.
Before the US-Iran war, vessels transited Hormuz through the internationally recognised traffic separation scheme adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1968. Since the conflict began following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, traffic has largely been divided between a northern route along the Iranian coast and the southern route along the Omani coast.
For months, Iran has demanded that vessels use the northern route in co-ordination with Iranian authorities. Tehran says the pre-war route through the IMO traffic separation scheme and the southern route are unsafe because of uncleared naval mines. It also says use of the southern route breaches the terms of a ceasefire agreement reached with the US in June, which has since expired.
Tehran has targeted selected vessels attempting to use the southern route. It also announced at the weekend that vessels crossing the strait without first co-ordinating with Iranian authorities would be blacklisted.
No imminent reopening
Gharibabadi said the discussions with Oman were critical but would not by themselves lead to a full reopening of the strait.
Iranian officials have said a full reopening would depend on Washington acknowledging what Tehran describes as past missteps and meeting commitments under the now-defunct memorandum of understanding.
Iran says those commitments include lifting sanctions, releasing Iranian funds frozen under the sanctions and ending what it describes as a US naval blockade. Tehran is also demanding an end to Israeli strikes on Lebanon and US strikes against Iranian-aligned groups in the Mideast Gulf.
Traffic remains at a trickle. Maritime security firm Windward recorded four vessels entering Hormuz on 24 August and none exiting, putting traffic at around 3pc of pre-war levels. Three of the four vessels used the northern route and one used the southern route.
The US maintains that it controls the strait and that vessels continue to transit the waterway. US energy secretary Chris Wright said earlier this month that an average of 9mn b/d of oil had exited Hormuz over a seven-day period.
Iranian officials and many market participants have questioned that figure.
