New Delhi, Aug 17 (NVI) Iran today said it has reached an “understanding” with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz, apparently referring to the control over movement of ships through the critical maritime corridor which runs between the countries.
The two countries are working to finalize details for a joint statement.
“An understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route,” Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran.
He did not elaborate but earlier Iran has said that it would talk to Oman regarding joint control of the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as the two countries share the coastline with the maritime corridor.
The US has sought an acceptable deal on opening the strait before ending its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran effectively closed the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies passed before the war, after Israel and the US attacked the country on February 28.
Baghaei conceded the talks with Oman have gone slowly, “but we had planned, and still plan, to finalize the understanding in the form of a package: the map plus a joint statement.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told Fox News that the US would bomb Oman if it “gets in the way,” using an expletive for emphasis.
Fox News did not provide audio of the interview.
This is not the first time that Trump has threatened Oman.
In May, he told reporters during a Cabinet meeting that “Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up.” (NVI)
