Iran is negotiating with Oman to establish a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz that would function as a single two-way route, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday.Baqaei said Iran had accepted responsibility under a June 18 memorandum to help manage navigation through the strategic waterway and had begun efforts to restore maritime traffic to pre-war levels within 30 days.He said those efforts were disrupted after the US “violated the agreement” by launching military attacks against Iran before the deadline and reinstating what Tehran described as an “unlawful maritime blockade” and restrictions on Iranian oil exports.Baqaei said talks with Oman were focused on replacing separate northern and southern routes with a single intermediate corridor that would address the interests and security concerns of both countries.He said the southern route through Omani waters, promoted by Washington following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, raised environmental and national security concerns. Some vessels using the route also carried military equipment, he said, despite the understanding that it should be used only for commercial shipping.The proposed interim corridor would remain operational until Iran and Oman agree on a permanent replacement for the existing international Traffic Separation Scheme, or TSS.According to the Iranian news agency, Baqaei said the current negotiations were “strictly focused on maritime navigation” and that it was too early to assess whether they could lead to wider diplomatic engagement or regional de-escalation.He said sovereignty, national security, sovereign rights and maritime services would be considered in any final agreement.Iran and Oman have exchanged maps and conducted technical reviews with specialists over the past week, Baqaei said, urging regional and extra-regional countries to support the negotiations.The developments come amid heightened security concerns in the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, reportedly attacked a US military base in Kuwait on Tuesday using at least three drones, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.Heavy blasts were heard in Iraq’s Basra province, while Iranian state broadcaster Irib cited regional reports of a major blaze in Kuwait.Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or Ukmto, said it had received a report that a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile about 20 nautical miles northeast of Al Khasab, Oman.This comes as US president Donald Trump said talks with Iran were underway, calling it a “last chance” for Tehran to reach a deal. Iran denied that negotiations were taking place or planned.
