Iran says Oman talks separate from reopening Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ongoing negotiations with Oman are entirely about designating new maritime routes for ships and are separate from reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera. Araghchi told Shahrara News that previous navigation lanes are no longer operational, and a temporary route is being designed that could later become permanent. He said an agreement could come soon, but reopening the strait depends on the US meeting unspecified conditions.

The remarks follow escalating rhetoric over the strategic waterway. On Friday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory after defeating Iran. Gharibabadi said on X that the strait 'cannot be seized by tweet' or military force, asserting that it 'has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian.' Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran's parliamentary National Security Commission, warned Trump against 'endless bluffing' over the strait.

Trump had told a rally in Long Island he would declare the strait US territory after the war with Iran ends. He earlier claimed the US has 'total control' over the Strait of Hormuz and said, 'I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!' The strait is one of the world's most sensitive geopolitical chokepoints, and previous standoffs have triggered spikes in global crude prices.