Iran and Oman agree on Hormuz shipping route amid tanker blasts

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran and Oman had reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.1 A joint announcement on the route was being finalized, provided certain third parties did not interfere, according to Baghaei.1 The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the master of a tanker had reported hearing two explosions while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.3

The incident occurred about 9 nautical miles (17 km) southeast of Kumzar, Oman, according to UKMTO.3 The crew and the vessel were reported safe, and no environmental damage was reported, the UKMTO said.3 The US was not involved in the Iran-Oman agreement, according to reports from Iran and Germany.2,4

German outlet tagesschau reported that the new route would give Iran significantly more control over the waterway.2 Iranian outlet FAZ noted that oil prices initially showed little reaction to the agreement, with crude trading around $80 per barrel.4 DW Deutsch reported that the US sought to be in contact with Iran regarding the strait, but Iran said it was only negotiating with Oman.5