The first meeting of the joint Iranian-Omani commission on the future management of the Strait of Hormuz was held in the capital of Oman, Muscat. The parties discussed current issues of shipping and coordination of actions in accordance with existing international agreements. This was reported by Hurriyet Daily News.
The meeting was attended by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Garibabadi and Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman Abdulaziz Al-Hinai.
“While discussing current issues related to the strait, we exchanged views on the future management of the strait within the framework of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the Sovereign Rights of Coastal States,” Garibabadi said.
Iran and Oman have previously said they are studying the costs of future management of the strait. At the same time, Oman has said it has no plans to impose a toll on ships and has announced the opening of a temporary sea corridor near its coast, agreed with the United Nations.
Iran, for its part, has stressed that the only permitted route remains the sea corridor along its coast. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also warned that using alternative routes could further escalate tensions in the region.
The talks come after the recent escalation of the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz and within the framework of agreements that provide for further consultations between Iran, Oman and other coastal states of the Persian Gulf on the future management regime of this strategically important maritime artery.
