MUSCAT — Oman and Iran have agreed to establish a joint working group to discuss the future administration of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, including services provided to vessels and associated costs, according to a joint statement issued following high-level talks in Muscat on Tuesday.
The announcement came during the visit of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who held discussions with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi.
In the joint statement, Oman and Iran, describing themselves as the coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring safe passage through the strategic waterway in accordance with international law while emphasizing their sovereign rights over their territorial waters in the strait.
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The two countries said they discussed issues relating to the Strait of Hormuz under the framework of the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, which includes provisions related to navigation and security in the waterway.
As part of the agreement, Oman and Iran will maintain dialogue through a joint working group between their foreign ministries aimed at reaching an understanding on the future management of navigation in the strait, services to be provided to shipping, and the costs associated with those services in line with international standards.
The statement said the two sides would also engage in consultations with other littoral states in the region and any other relevant parties as discussions progress.
Both countries stressed that any arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz must fully respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Oman and Iran as the two coastal states bordering the narrow maritime passage.
At the same time, Muscat and Tehran reiterated their commitment to keeping the Strait of Hormuz a secure and open waterway for international navigation, underscoring the importance of maritime safety, freedom of navigation and regional stability.
The joint statement also reaffirmed Oman’s support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran and stressed the importance of sustained dialogue and coordination to ensure its successful implementation.
