Oman Opens Temporary Hormuz Corridor as Qatar PM Arrives for Gulf-Iran Talks
Oman has announced the establishment of a temporary toll-free shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz for vessels departing the region, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
In a statement on Wednesday, the Omani Foreign Ministry said that Oman has coordinated with the IMO to “make available the option of a temporary maritime corridor for all vessels,” in accordance with the coordinates announced by the IMO and the competent Omani authorities.
Operational Details
The temporary corridor involves two routes north and south of the existing shipping lane to facilitate the safe passage of vessels leaving the region, according to Reuters.
The IMO and Omani authorities have developed a phased plan to group vessels and provide them with individual departure schedules and route instructions.
However, Oman emphasized that shipowners and captains remain responsible for conducting their own risk assessments before transit. Additionally, vessels must keep their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) active and report any navigational hazards directly to the Oman Maritime Security Center.
Oman-Iran Hormuz Discussions
The Omani statement followed discussions with Iran regarding the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz. The recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) states that Tehran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels through the waterway.
Furthermore, Iran and Oman will hold discussions with other Gulf littoral countries to “define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Following talks in Muscat on Tuesday, Oman and Iran said they will form a joint working group involving their foreign ministers to “reach agreement on the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the services that will be provided in this regard, and the costs associated with them, in accordance with international standards.”
To this end, they noted that they will hold discussions with the littoral States in the region, and with any other relevant parties.
Qatari-Led Talks
On Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Muscat, where he met with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, reported the Oman News Agency.
During their meeting, the two Foreign Ministers explored recent developments related to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the smooth flow of trade and energy movement through the vital maritime corridor.
According to Reuters, citing a diplomat, the Qatari Prime Minister will discuss with the Omani side launching negotiations involving Iran, Iraq and Gulf Arab states on the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomat noted that these negotiations are separate from the ongoing US-Iran talks. While Gulf states will likely lobby for zero transit fees, Iran is expected to counter with its own proposals for environmental, navigational, and security charges, he added.
