Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said an agreement reached with Oman on a new maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz does not amount to reopening the strategic waterway.
Speaking in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadid, Araqchi said the agenda of an upcoming meeting in Oman would center on the new maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz.
He stressed that the agreement with the Sultanate of Oman should in no way be interpreted as meaning that the strait would be reopened.
The Iranian foreign minister said the participating countries would be briefed on the details of the agreement reached with Muscat, as well as maps related to the new maritime route.
Araqchi stated that Iran’s condition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz is for the US to return to its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.
He also expressed hope that the talks in Oman would pave the way for future consultations on issues of concern to the countries of the region.
Iran believes regional countries themselves are responsible for ensuring their security and stability, he stressed, saying sustainable security could be achieved when countries in the region reach understandings on common issues without external interference.
Araqchi made it clear that the Oman meeting will not be aimed at establishing a new regional security mechanism, but described it as an important event that could serve as a confidence-building step.
On Yemen, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran believes there is no military solution to the conflict and that the Arab country’s future must be determined by Yemenis themselves through dialogue.
Araqchi also attributed the lack of maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz to US aggressive actions and illegal interventions, saying Washington’s conduct is the main factor behind the absence of security in the waterway.
The comments came as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the foreign ministers of regional Arab states would meet in Oman on Monday, September 14, to reach an agreement on a framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and communicate the arrangement to the relevant international maritime organization. He said the route would be open under international law if the US stopped its aggression and attacks, adding that Iran is ready to cooperate with neighboring countries to preserve regional security and expand economic ties.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei had also said preparations were underway for the regional meeting, which is to include Iran, Iraq and other Persian Gulf littoral states. He said the participants would discuss regional issues as well as the outcome of Iran-Oman negotiations on establishing safe routes for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Baqaei stressed that while Iran remains committed to ensuring the security of shipping through the strait, such security cannot be guaranteed as long as US aggressive actions and illegal interventions, including its naval blockade and economic war, continue.
Source: Tasnim news agency