Iran proposes temporary Hormuz plan giving itself greater control over transit routes

Iran has proposed a temporary arrangement to Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under which one direction of maritime traffic would pass through Iranian waters, while part of the opposite route would also be routed through Iranian territory, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday.

Speaking on state television, Gharibabadi said Tehran rejected an Omani proposal for an equal division of transit routes between the two countries, arguing that it failed to address Iran’s security concerns until long-term regional stability is achieved.

He warned that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed if Oman rejected Iran’s proposal, adding that Tehran had never recognised the southern shipping route along Oman’s coast.

Gharibabadi also said Iran no longer recognised the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), a navigation route that runs mainly through Omani waters. He argued that the arrangement undermined Iran’s ability to monitor vessels transiting the strait following attacks by the United States and Israel in late February.

The TSS, adopted by the International Maritime Organization, is currently unusable because of the risk of mines and has been replaced by Iran’s northern route and Oman’s southern route.

“This is for national security and not bullying because when the TSS was for 60 years in Omani waters, we didn’t say anything,” Gharibabadi said.

He also warned that Tehran would not allow any third country, even if invited by Oman, to conduct demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Credit: Reuters