Oman and Iran have agreed to establish a joint working group to negotiate the future management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman\u2019s Foreign Ministry following high-level talks in Muscat.<\/p>\n
The announcement came after meetings between Omani officials and an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During the visit, the delegation held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safe passage of vessels through the strategically vital waterway in accordance with international law, while emphasizing their sovereignty and sovereign rights over their territorial waters in the Strait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As reported by Anadolu, the discussions focused on issues related to the Strait of Hormuz under the provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran. As part of the agreement, Muscat and Tehran will continue consultations through a joint working group comprising representatives from their foreign ministries.<\/p>\n
The two countries discussed matters relating to the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with the provisions of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. They agreed to maintain their dialogue on this issue through a joint working group between the two foreign ministries in order to reach agreement on the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz [\u2026]<\/p>\n
\u2026the statement highlighted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both sides also agreed to engage other Gulf littoral states and relevant stakeholders in discussions on future arrangements governing the waterway. The statement stressed that any measures concerning the Strait of Hormuz must fully respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the states bordering the passage.<\/p>\n
The agreement also commits Iran to making every effort to ensure the safe and toll-free passage of commercial vessels between the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for a period of 60 days, with commercial shipping resuming immediately.<\/p>\n