Iran and Oman are close to reaching an agreement on a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, but its opening will depend on other conditions as well.

Axar.az reports, citing ISNA, that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks at a press conference on August 8.

“Negotiations with Oman regarding the legal mechanism and management of the Strait of Hormuz to determine shipping transit routes are currently underway and very close to an agreement, but the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains contingent on other conditions, including the U.S. compensating for its violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” he said.

According to Araghchi, the previously existing traffic separation scheme is no longer acceptable to Iran.

"The legacy Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) route that existed in the past is no longer acceptable to the Islamic Republic of Iran for vessel transit, necessitating the consideration of a new TSS, which inherently involves extensive technical and legal complexities," Araghchi said.

Araghchi also accused the United States of violating the Islamabad Memorandum, saying that each such violation should be addressed individually.

“Under Article 5 of the memorandum, the Islamic Republic of Iran was fulfilling its obligations, with transit conditions set to return to normal within one month. Within two weeks, transit levels had already reached 60 percent of normal conditions; however, the Americans sought to establish new unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite warnings issued by Iran, U.S. forces attempted to undermine Iranian management over the Strait of Hormuz, making their violation of the memorandum and infringement on Iranian authority completely unacceptable to Tehran.”